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Amateur physicians that we are, many fans of the Houston Texans--particularly those who have suffered a torn ACL of their own--immediately assumed the worst when T.J. Yates crumpled in a heap without anyone touching him shortly before halftime of the Texans' first ever win in Indianapolis this afternoon. Sadly, it looks like several of us were in fact (accurately) practicing medicine without a license.
Can confirm T.J. Yates appears to have a torn ACL. Tough break for a guy who got a second chance in Houston. #Texans
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) December 20, 2015
T.J. Yates on knee injury 'it doesn't look good' said MRI tomorrow will determine severity of knee injury believed to be torn ACL
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 20, 2015
T.J. Yates was already a Houston icon thanks to his performance as a rookie in 2011...
...yet Yates added mightily to his legend in a little less than two months after being forced back into Houston's lineup two weeks after he was signed as a free agent in the wake of Ryan Mallett's untimely release. After Brian Hoyer was concussed in the midst of a Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati against the Bengals, Yates stepped in and managed to lead the Texans to an improbable win over the then-undefeated Bengals. Yates started again the following week against the Jets, again piloting the Texans to a win. Then, after Hoyer suffered a second concussion during Houston's loss to the Patriots last week, Yates was pressed into service again and started for what turned out to be yet another first in Texans' franchise history--today's victory over the Colts in Indianapolis.
Maybe Brian Hoyer will return to the Texans' lineup next week...
Brian Hoyer still under the concussion protocol, but "feeling good," improving outlook, per sources, more testing this week
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 20, 2015
...or maybe Brandon Weeden will get the start against the Titans. Time will tell. No matter what happens from here on out, we have T.J. Yates to thank for our Houston Texans being in first place in the AFC South on December 20, 2015. Here's hoping we get the opportunity to see him in a Texans uniform again.
UPDATE: The MRI today confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ACL.
Sources confirm T.J. Yates' magnetic resonance imaging exam today reveals torn ACL, which is what team's initial diagnosis revealed Sunday
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 21, 2015
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