Brian Cushing's 2013 season is over because of a left knee injury. He left the field on a cart in the second half of Sunday's loss at Kansas City, and according to head coach Gary Kubiak, the inside linebacker will undergo surgery this week.
"Obviously he has a significant knee injury," Kubiak said on Monday. "He's going to have surgery at some point this week."
Cushing was hurt at the midpoint of the third quarter on a passing play. He was rushing
quarterback Alex Smith, but got cut down on a block by running back Jamaal Charles.
Cushing tore his left ACL during a Week 5 win over the Jets in 2012, and missed the remainder of the season.
"After what he's been through, and then to make his way back and play the way he was playing, I think he was playing at a Defensive Player of the Year-type level," Kubiak said. "That's the type of year he was having as a player. And then here he goes again, he's gotta go through this."
Despite the tough news, Kubiak said Cushing and team doctor Walter Lowe were both "positive" about the future and recovery from the injury.
Darryl Sharpton will take Cushing's place in the starting lineup next to fellow inside linebacker Joe Mays. Kubiak also said the Texans need to address the inside linebacker position, since Cushing is injured and veteran Tim Dobbins has been injured.
