Deshaun Watson, Quarterback
Deshaun Watson set the league on fire last year. The rookie came off the bench early in the first game of the regular season, sat down in the captain’s chair, and became the face of the franchise. The Clemson product threw for nearly 1,700 yards in the first seven games of his career and rushed for an additional 269 yards. His 21 total touchdowns put him on pace to break rookie records. His potentially historic run was tragically cut short by an ACL injury after Week 7. His loss wasn’t just felt on the stat sheet, Watson had changed the dynamic of the team. He brought an electricity the Texans offense hadn’t felt since Andre Johnson was helping Matt Schaub put together a 12-4 season. Not only did his absence sour the rest of the season but it also cast a shadow of doubt on his seemingly bright future.
Texans’ fans have been forced to wait patiently since last October to see if Deshaun Watson’s breakout is merely delayed or a complete mirage. Watson’s recovery appears to have gone well and all signs point toward a full comeback. He was cleared by the Texans medical staff in time for training camp and made it to the preseason without any setbacks. However, despite taking the field with the starting squad, Watson didn’t see much action in Thursday’s tilt with Kansas City. He came out of the game after the first possession in which he only threw one pass for four yards. Surely this was a protective measure in an effort to ensure his availability for the regular season. While I understand protecting an investment, I’m dying to see if Watson can still do franchise quarterback things.
Unfortunately, it’s doubtful we see much of Watson against the 49ers this week. Especially if last week was any indication about how the coaching staff is treating his return to the field. However, Texans fans are still going to be dialed in, hoping for any answers to the plethora of questions surrounding the young quarterback. Did the injury affect his passing ability? Was his deep ball accuracy a fluke? Can he still be as impactful running the ball? Will he play timid? Any glimpse of Deshaun Watson’s superstar skillset would go a long way for the fan base.
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