NFL: Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston out for season
Monday 27 October 2014 21:40, UK
Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston's season is over after he suffered a bizarre knee injury on Sunday.
Houston tore his anterior cruciate ligament when celebrating a fourth-quarter sack against the New England Patriots.
But the timing of the injury was 'disappointing' according to Bears coach Marc Trestman, with the Bears already down by 25 points in the closing minutes of a blowout game in Foxboro.
Houston sacked backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the Bears' 20-yard line with the score 48-23. It was his first sack of the season, and he sprung to his feet to celebrate.
He skipped a few yards down the field, then jumped and landed on two feet. As he landed, he made a demonstrative wave with both arms but his knee buckled, and he crumpled to the ground.
The 27-year-old, who signed a $35m five-year contract in March, got back to his feet but immediately went back to the turf and stayed there in agony.
“I probably shouldn't have celebrated while they were blowing us out, but it happens,” Houston said.
General manager Phil Emery said the Bears are "disappointed for him and in him."
"The team paid a price, but at the end of the day Lamarr paid a bigger price. He lost his season. Enough said." he added.
he game, which saw the Bears drop to 3-5 on the season, also cost them the services of guard Matt Slauson who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury.
