Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a ruptured Achilles during Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and his season is over, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Browns’ initial fears of an Achilles injury for Watson after leaving the Bengals game were confirmed following an MRI on Monday,
According to Mary Kat Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watson will undergo surgery to repair the ruptured Achilles with the procedure done by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Watson is reportedly exploring a technique known as “speed bridge,” which ElAttrache used on New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers last season. Rodgers was able to return to practice 77 days after the procedure.
Watson planted his right leg in the first half as he started to scramble and immediately crumpled to the turf in pain.
Athletic trainers tended to Watson on the field as backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson warmed up. Watson eventually left the field on a cart.
Watson covered his face with a towel in tears as he was carted off the field. The Browns eventually ruled Watson out with an Achilles injury.
Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback before Jameis Winston finished the game for the Browns. Thompson-Robinson completed 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards and two interceptions; Winston went 5-for-11 for 67 yards and a late 8-yard touchdown to David Njoku with 1:32 remaining.
Watson, 29, is in his third season as the Browns’ starting quarterback after joining Cleveland from the Houston Texans via trade in 2022.
Watson made the Pro Bowl in three of his four seasons in Houston after being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft out of Clemson in 2017. Watson was accused by more than 20 women in civil litigation of varying instances of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, with the first lawsuit being filed in March 2021. Watson requested a trade from the Texans in April of that year and sat out every game of the following season before being traded to the Browns.
A grand jury in Houston declined to indict Watson on criminal charges. Watson eventually settled the lawsuits in confidential agreements.
Browns signed Watson to historic contract despite allegations
Watson sat the entire 2021 season amid the allegations as the Texans moved on from their once-promising quarterback. In March 2022, Cleveland traded for Watson after he agreed to waive a no-trade clause in his contract.
Despite the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct and the fact Watson had missed an entire season of football, the Browns signed Watson to a historic, five-year, $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed. The guarantee was the largest in NFL history. A Browns franchise that had long struggled at football’s most important position made the deal believing Watson was the missing piece on a roster built to compete for a championship.
In August 2022, the NFL suspended Watson for the first 11 games of the 2022 season as the result of its investigation into the allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The league also fined Watson $5 million, the largest fine levied against a player in league history. Watson wasn’t eligible to play in his first season in Cleveland until Week 12.
Watson’s struggles in Cleveland
Watson struggled in his first season in Cleveland, completing 58.2 of his passes for 183.7 yards per game with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in six games.
Watson was limited to six games in 2023 after undergoing surgery for a fractured shoulder in November. Watson again struggled, completing 61.4% of his passes for 185.8 yards per game with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
Watson has been worse in 2024. In six games prior to Sunday, Watson completed 61.3% of his passes for 170 yards per game with five touchdowns and three interceptions. His 76.6 quarterback rating would stand as the worst of his career for a season.
With Watson at quarterback, Cleveland (1-6) ranked last in the NFL through six weeks with 240.2 yards of offense per game. A Browns team with postseason aspirations that made the playoffs last season with Joe Flacco at quarterback has lost five straight.
New allegation this season
In September, Watson faced a new sexual assault lawsuit by a woman who accused him of assaulting her while they were in her apartment in a case that dates back to 2020. That case was settled in October via a confidential agreement.
The Browns addressed the latest allegations via a statement from a spokesperson in September.
“We will respect the due process our legal system affords regarding the recently filed civil suit and follow the NFL’s guidelines on this matter,” the statement read.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said at the time the league was investigating the matter under its personal conduct policy. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that the case was still under review.
