Now that Deshaun Watson is eight months removed from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Saquon Barkley Jersey , everyone — especially fans in Houston — expects the Texans quarterback to contend for comeback player of the year and MVP honors. Is it asking too much from a quarterback who has played only seven career games?

“It’s no pressure,” Watson said in a phone interview Thursday after participating in the 14th annual Gatorade Beat the Heat program, teaching young athletes at a YMCA of Greater Houston Camp proper hydration and heat safety.

“I know who I am and what I can do. Pressure is trying to focus on what other people think I can do. I already know what I can do.”

The rest of the NFL learned what he can do last season when the first-round draft pick threw 19 touchdown passes, an NFL record for a quarterback in his first seven games. The Texans averaged 40.5 points per game in his six starts.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman paid him the ultimate compliment, telling Watson he “played the best game any quarterback has ever played against us.”

“It’s very motivating, very aspiring to have the knowledge of me being able to be successful so young and have players go out of their way to talk about me,” Watson said. “I respect everyone that mentioned my name and said good things about me. I appreciate it.”

Watson, though, expects to be even better in his second season despite defensive coordinators having more tape on him than they did a year ago.

“They adjust to me; I adjust to them Nick Vannett Jersey ,” Watson said. “They’re watching film on me; I’m watching film on them. It’s a chess match. Whoever’s better on that Sunday is going to win the game. I have to stay in my lane and focus on what I have to do and listen to what the coaches are telling me to do. They’re going to make sure I’m prepared on game day.”

Now that players are done with their offseason work, Watson and his receivers will get away to throw together before training camp begins. His rehab will continue, too.

Watson can’t put a percentage on where his knee is, but he repeatedly said, “It feels good.” He has shed a knee brace, a noteworthy rehab milestone considering he was injured during a November 2 practice. Watson went without the brace for the Texans’ three-day minicamp this week.

“It’s really just a mindset, just having the confidence that I’m going to be just fine and having that faith,” said Watson, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee in 2014 while at Clemson. “I’ve been through it before Denzel Perryman Jersey , so I kind of had a familiarity with the process and what it takes.”

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators are promising plenty of giveaways Monday on Fan Appreciation Night at Canadian Tire Centre when, in fact, that has been a continuing theme all season.

Whereas paying customers will have the opportunity to walk away with various prizes from the team’s final home game of 2017-18 against the Winnipeg Jets, visitors have far too often left the building with two points in the standings and padded scoring stats.

The Senators (27-40-11) find themselves in 30th place for many reasons, not the least of which is their play in what’s supposed to be the friendliest of confines, where they have won just 16 of 40 games to date and given up 143 goals, second most home-ice goals allowed in the league behind the 147 surrendered by the New York Islanders.

By defeating the Jets, meanwhile, the Senators would tie their longest home ice winning streak of the season Austin Hooper Jersey , which is two games.

“We’re not going to send any message in one game, but I think we know we have a good group in here,” Senators center Matt Duchene told Postmedia. “There are probably going to be some changes in the summer, but at the same time, the nucleus of this group is a really good one and I know this season won’t be repeated next year.”

The biggest change could be a trade including captain Erik Karlsson, a player the team will look to deal if it can’t find common ground on a contract extension when the sides are officially allowed to begin negotiations July 1.

So Monday could also mark the last game in a Senators jersey at Canadian Tire Centre for the greatest player in franchise history.

If the Senators are going to turn around their fortunes next season, they’ll need to get better at keeping the puck out of their net than the second highest goals against per game number (3.42) they currently boast.

Ottawa will need somebody to step up and give it the type of goaltending Connor Hellebuyck has given Winnipeg this season.

The Jets (48-20-10) clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday with a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was yet another steady showing by Hellebuyck, who along with having the second highest win total in the league has a 41-11-9 mark that should make him a strong Vezina Trophy candidate.

The Jets’ four remaining games are against nonplayoff teams, and they do have veteran goalie Steve Mason about ready to return from an 11-game absence with a knee injury. That means Hellebuyck could get some rest this week.

At the same time Fred Biletnikoff Jersey , coach Paul Maurice wants Hellebuyck to be in his groove for the playoffs.

“It’s been a heavy schedule for him,” Maurice told the Winnipeg Sun, “but he’s feeling strong right now and we need him to play just like that.”

The Senators will remember Hellebuyck from their Dec. 3 meeting, although he only had to make 21 saves in a 5-0 victory in Winnipeg.

The Jets will take the opportunity on Monday to rest one of their regular blue liners and give 21-year-old rookie Sami Niku his NHL debut. Niku, a seventh-round pick, has 15 goals and 52 points in 71 games with Manitoba Moose.

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