Deshaun Watson looked to be in line for 2017 NFL Rookie of the Year this season, but an ACL injury ended his campaign, and surgery now looms on Wednesday.
During the 2017 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans traded up to get Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Through the first seven weeks of the season, that looked like a stroke of genius, as Watson appeared to be in line to win the Rookie of the Year award. However, he tore his ACL in practice last week, ending his season, and will undergo surgery on the knee on Wednesday.
Staying with torn ACLs, the Green Bay Packers suffered another big loss on Monday night. Starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL in the team’s loss against the Detroit Lions, ending his season. The Packers are already without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and in a season that once looked so promising, it appears the Packers are headed toward the bottom of the NFC North.
On Monday night, the Detroit Lions took advantage of the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers, winning an important NFC North matchup. Quarterback Matthew Stafford became the fourth player in history with 200 touchdown passes before the age of 30, and he has really played up to his contract this season. Stafford was made the highest-paid player in the NFL this past offseason, and with injuries mounting in the division, he could lead his Lions back to the playoffs for the second straight season.
The Minnesota Vikings have been playing the most consistent football of any team in the NFC North this season and are currently sitting in first place. Sam Bradford began the year as the team’s starting quarterback until his balky knee has forced him to the sidelines in recent weeks. Former starter Teddy Bridgewater will be activated this week, and with Bradford not coming back any time soon, they may be sending him to the injured reserve, ending his season.
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Middle linebacker Denzel Perryman is one of the better defensive players on the Los Angeles Chargers roster, though he has yet to play this season due to his injured ankle. The 24-year-old was activated by the Chargers on Tuesday, and for a team that has won three of the last four games, it could not have come soon enough. Perryman racked up over 70 tackles last season for the Chargers, who despite getting out to an 0-4 start, find themselves still alive in the AFC Playoff race.