INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts know exactly what the Houston Texans are about to go through because it was just a season ago that they had to endure the same thing.

Franchise player, the pulse of the team going down with what's potentially a season-ending injury.

That was the Colts with quarterback Andrew Luck last season. Now the Texans will experience the same thing with defensive end J.J. Watt.

The Texans are expected to put Watt on injured reserve. Watt, if put on IR, can practice after six weeks and return to playing in games after eight weeks.

What does Watt's injury mean for the Colts and the other AFC South teams?

It means the division is wide open, especially for the Colts to reclaim the top spot after finishing second last season without Luck. The Colts won the AFC South by going undefeated within division during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

The Texans are currently in first place in the division with a 2-1 record and some looked at them as the favorites to repeat as champs with the offensive moves they made to go with Watt and the defense.

The Colts are finally starting to get healthy on defense with the return of key players like cornerback Vontae Davis and defensive lineman Henry Anderson, and the they'll be fine offensively as long as Luck doesn't turn the ball over.

The Colts (1-2) can start to make their move on Houston because their next three games are against Jacksonville (0-3), Chicago (0-3) and the Texans (2-1) where Watt won't be on the field to terrorize Luck. Watt has sacked Luck eight times in six career meetings.

The Texans next four games are against Tennessee, Minnesota, Indianapolis and Denver.