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Browns QB Deshaun Watson feared to have suffered season-ending torn Achilles

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Feared to Have Season-Ending Achilles Tear

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was carted off during the second quarter of Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, with fears that he may have sustained a season-ending torn Achilles, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Watson would undergo additional tests to determine the full extent of the injury, though it appears grim.

Watson went down suddenly after dropping back to pass, collapsing to his knees. Slo-motion replays hinted at a potential Achilles tear, with a visible pop in his lower right calf. He remained down for several minutes as medical staff attended to him, before he was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game. At the time of his exit, Cincinnati was leading 7-0.

In Watson’s absence, backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped in to lead Cleveland’s first scoring drive of the afternoon, capped by a Nick Chubb touchdown. However, a missed extra point attempt kept the Browns from tying the game. Later in the fourth quarter, Thompson-Robinson sustained a finger injury, forcing the Browns to turn to Jameis Winston, who had been listed as the team’s emergency third quarterback.

Though Thompson-Robinson’s injury is not believed to be severe, his ability to grip the football will determine his availability in the coming days, according to Rapoport. Stefanski did not name a starting quarterback for next week, as they await further medical evaluations on both Watson and Thompson-Robinson.

Before his injury, Watson was enjoying his most efficient outing of the season, completing 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards. The 29-year-old is in the third year of a five-year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract, which he signed after being traded from the Houston Texans to Cleveland in March 2022. Watson is set to earn $46 million in 2025 and 2026.

Despite the hefty investment, Watson’s tenure with the Browns has been plagued by challenges. Following his trade from Houston, where he had made the Pro Bowl in three of his first four seasons, Watson sat out the 2021 season due to a trade request and legal allegations involving sexual misconduct during massage sessions. As a result, he was suspended for 11 games in 2022 and fined $5 million for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy.

Since returning to action late in the 2022 season, Watson has struggled to find his rhythm. He completed a career-low 58.2% of his passes in six games last year and has dealt with further setbacks in 2023, including shoulder surgery that prematurely ended his season. Entering Sunday’s game, Watson had thrown just five touchdown passes across six games for the now 1-6 Browns, who have yet to score more than 20 points in a game this season.