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After surgery was delayed because of swelling in his knee, Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing had successful surgery to repair a torn ACL on Thursday. Cushing was injured in the Texans' Week 5 win over the New York Jets 23-17 after Jets' guard Matt Slauson blocked him low. Slauson was fined $10,000 for the hit on Cushing.
If he stays on schedule with rehab, Cushing could be ready to go in time for the start of training camp next season. The average rehab time for an ACL tear is approximately nine months. The fourth-year pro out of USC had amassed 28 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception before being injured.
The former first-round pick was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 and voted second team All-Pro in 2011 by the Associated Press. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.