So long 2018 playoffs!

Over the past five weeks, the Houston Texans were starting to look like a playoff team, despite the absence of three-time Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt, and Whitney Mercilus, who are out for the season with injuries.

The reason the Texans were considered a playoff contender was rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was leading the league in touchdown passes and was looking like a lock for the Rookie of the Year award.

A day after the city of Houston was celebrating their World Series championship, their star quarterback suffered an ACL tear in practice, ending his promising season.

After Watson’s injury was announced, the Texans decided not to sign a mobile quarterback that could have come in and run their defense, instead opting to bring back T.J. Yates to backup Tom Savage, who lost the starting job after a disastrous first half in their season opener.

With Savage under center, the Texans offense, which had scored at least 30 points in five consecutive games, could only muster 14 points as they lost to the lowly Colts 20-14.

The Texans still have games against the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars still left on their schedule, so the best Houston can hope for now is an 8-8 season.

Even though the news about Watson’s injury is disappointing, there is a silver lining for the Texans. If they finish with a bad enough record, they will have a high draft pick which can be used on one of the best prospects in the draft or traded for multiple picks.

The fact that the Texans will have a more experienced Watson back next season, with a healthy Watt and Mercilus should make them one of the favorites to win the AFC next season.