Deshaun

Watson

Watson is out for the season with a torn Achilles and is due $46 million in each of the next two years. The Browns might figure a way to move on from Watson, 29, this offseason, and if he stays put, he likely won’t be ready for game action until the middle of the 2025 season. Watson’s return to Cleveland remains a long shot.

This was the logical next step for Watson, who suffered the injury early in Week 7’s loss to the Bengals. With his future with the Browns in question, Watson will now work on rehabbing to be ready in time for the 2025 season, whether it be with the Browns or someone else.

“Obviously, I believe in Deshaun,” Stefanski said when pressed. “But I also think it’s important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury and a bad break for him. We’re feeling bad for him and know that he’ll bounce back. But not getting into all those things down the road. I’m looking forward to him getting the surgery and obviously getting his body right back.” ESPN also reported that $44.2 million of Watson’s 2025 salary is insured. It sure sounds like there’s a chance that Watson will be competing for a job in 2025, if not trying to hold off a new addition.

Watson’s 2024 season is over. The signal-caller is considering a “bridge” operation to repair the injury according to outlets, but it won’t change his status for the remainder of the campaign. Watson was a disaster in 2024 with a 5/3 TD/INT ratio and a 5.3 YPA while “leading” the Browns to a 1-6 record. Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) will likely take over as the starter. Neither one exactly should inspire much fantasy confidence.

This is the same procedure Aaron Rodgers underwent following his Achilles injury last season. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the surgery on Rodgers, is the same doctor who also performed surgery on Watson’s shoulder last season. In an article on Cleveland.com, Cabot writes, “The procedure involves anchoring the Achilles tendon to the heel bone with stitches and bone anchors.” It’s not the conventional surgery for this type of injury, but Rodgers was already back on the practice field before the end of last season and has appeared unbothered by his injury through his first seven games of this season. Watson’s season is over, but whatever surgery he opts for, he should have a chance to be ready close to training camp if all goes well.

Watson was carted off after suffering a non-contact right leg injury in the second quarter of the Browns’ Week 7 game against the Bengals. The injury had the characteristics of an Achilles injury and Watson was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the game. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports Watson will undergo further testing to confirm the torn Achilles, but his season is likely over. He ends his 2024 completing 61.3 percent of his passes for five touchdowns, three interceptions, and a career-low 5.1 yards per attempt before completing 15-of-17 passes for 128 yards in Week 7. Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped in for Watson in Week 7 with Jameis Winston inactive, but Winston will be in the mix to start moving forward. The Browns are on the hook for the rest of Watson’s contract, currently in year three of his fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract; he has now played exactly six full games in each year of his deal. How the Browns move forward with their quarterback situation remains to be seen, but their struggling offense will now get different looks with Watson out.

Watson’s right leg buckled in the second quarter of the Browns’ Week 7 game against the Bengals, having the characteristics of a potential Achilles injury. The Browns were driving into Bengals territory at the time of injury, with Watson exiting having completed 15-of-17 passes for 128 yards. The Browns deactivated Jameis Winston for the game, making Dorian Thompson-Robinson the backup for the day. Thompson-Robinson will take on the rest of the game for Week 7, but Winston will be back in the mix to start should Watson miss extended time.

Fowler said the decision to bench Watson would assuredly involve team owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry, meaning head coach Kevin Stefanski has no choice in confirming Watson as the starter week after week in a lost season. “My sense through all of this is the Browns are resigned to their fate, having no choice but to ride this out and hope things turn,” he said, adding coaches who have faced Watson in 2024 believe he’s “done” as an NFL quarterback. Fowler and ESPN’s Dan Graziano concluded there is no easy way out of Watson’s contract. Even sending an entire draft’s worth of picks to a team willing to absorb Watson’s remaining deal might not do the trick. We can expect Watson to remain under center for the rest of the 2024 season.

:rolleyes: Watson has had one of the worst seasons in recent history. The good news is he draws the Bengals next week. The bad news is he hasn’t taken advantage of any of his supposedly advantageous matchups this year. Even in SuperFlex leagues Watson with byes, it’s hard to imagine starting Watson right now. Jameis Winston will continue to wait for somebody — likely Cleveland’s ownership, if we’re being honest — to find some reason.

Watson managed to avoid any turnovers in this one, but he was held to one-or-fewer touchdowns for the fifth time in six starts. He has yet to reach 200 yards passing. Today was the fourth time he took at least five sacks. As usual, there were multiple drive-killing operational penalties. Defenders will cling to the Browns’ ongoing offensive line apocalypse — they lost their backup center today — and issues with drops, but the reality remains this is an unwatchable attack. It’s been a long, long time since an established veteran displayed this little pop during what was supposed to be their prime. There is no light at the end of this tunnel even ahead of a plus Week 7 matchup with the Bengals’ bottom-five defense. Be that as it may, coach Kevin Stefanski was adamant afterward that Watson will remain the starter.