Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson continues to make strides in his recovery from the torn ACL which ended his season last year. Tuesday marked another important step in Watson's progress as he practiced during the team’s minicamp without wearing a knee brace.

Surprisingly, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien didn’t seem to be aware of that noteworthy development with his star quarterback.

“I didn’t notice that,” Texans coach Bill O'Brien said per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “I’m sure that was cleared with the proper people. I’m not the brace doctor or the brace coach.”

Despite O’Brien’s curious lack of cognizance about the status of Watson’s knee, the fact that the QB has shed his knee brace is kind of a big deal. It’s indicative of the tremendous progress he’s made on his rehab that the medical staff cleared him to work without the brace. He’s already expected to be ready for training camp at the rate he’s going.

Watson’s mobility is part of what makes him special. His ability to extend and create plays with his legs sets him apart from other quarterbacks. Even after suffering his serious knee injury, Watson has already come out and said he won’t change his style of play.

The absence of a knee brace should make it that much easier for him to move around and do what he does so well on the football field. And if he is able to do all the things he was doing pre-injury, he’ll be all the more difficult for opposing defenses to stop.