Lake Forest, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr
Houston will miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured anterior
cruciate ligament in his right knee while celebrating a sack during Sunday’s
blowout loss to New England.
Bears general manager Phil Emery said Monday that Houston will have surgery
once the swelling goes down in his knee. The team expects his rehab to last
between six and eight months.
Houston was injured after sacking rookie backup Jimmy Garoppolo for an 11-yard
loss with three minutes remaining in the 51-23 setback. He leapt in the air,
then went to the ground clutching his knee. He got up, but sat back down after
walking a few steps.
Houston has been criticized for celebrating a personal achievement — his
first sack of the season — during a lopsided defeat.
The Bears signed him to a five-year, $35 million free-agent deal in March and
Emery said Houston was frustrated that he hadn’t recorded a sack in the first
seven games.
“He let out all of his frustration and ultimately he paid the price for it,”
Emery said. “We’re very disappointed 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.”
NFC North rival Detroit lost a player in a similar situation this season when
linebacker Stephen Tulloch suffered a torn ACL last month while celebrating a
sack of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The linebacker was hurt doing the popular “Discount Double Check” motion from
Rodgers’ State Farm Insurance commercials.
Houston’s injury also recalled memories of Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica
infamously tearing the ACL in his right knee celebrating a 43-yard field goal
in the first quarter of a game against the Giants on Dec. 15, 2001.
The Bears (3-5) have lost two in a row going into their bye week and Houston
isn’t their only injured player.
Emery said starting left guard Matt Slauson will miss the rest of the season
with a torn right pectoral muscle that will not require surgery but will need
three or four months of recovery.
Backup linebacker Darryl Sharpton is week-to-week with a right hamstring
injury and is expected to miss the next game against Green Bay on Nov. 9.
But Emery expects linebackers Lance Briggs and Jonathan Bostic, safety Danny
McCray and tackle Jordan Mills to return to practice and is optimistic wide
receiver Marquess Wilson will come of the short-term injured reserve list
soon.
