Deshaun Watson. (Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was on track for a successful season and maybe loads of personal accolades last year, until a devastating torn ACL ended his rookie campaign in October.
He'll be back under center Sunday in Foxborough to start the regular season, and Patriots defensive captain Devin McCourty expects to see the same old Watson.
"I think he's gonna be the same guy, but just a better kind of passer and quarterback, just because he has experience under his belt," McCourty said. "He's been working, but he still has all the same ability that he had last year. So I don't think that'll be as much of an unknown--the unknown with him is how to stop him."
Boston Globe NFL writer Ben Volin said he isn't so sure what to expect from a Houston club coming off a plethora of significant injuries.
"The huge unknown right now, it mostly revolves around their quarterback, Deshaun Watson," Volin said. "This kid is such a dynamic and unbelievable athlete, but this is his first game coming back from a torn ACL, and he's not going to be 100 percent. So, what kind of mobility is he going to have, what kind of athleticism? Remember that game last year at Gillette Stadium, it was Watson's, I think it was his second start. He was unbelievable, running circles around the Patriots, making incredible throws, and really putting a scare into the Patriots. They needed a last-second heroic comeback from Tom Brady to pull off the win."
Pats won that game 36-33.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports