Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after tests on Monday confirmed that he suffered a ruptured Achilles during Sunday's loss to the Bengals, the team announced.
Watson will undergo surgery this week and is expected to make a full recovery, per the club.
Watson suffered a non-contact injury to his right Achilles after dropping back to pass during the second quarter of Sunday's game. Watson abruptly fell to his knees on the play and a slo-mo replay appeared to show a reverberation in his right calf. A visibly distraught Watson was later carted off the field, and the Browns ruled him out after halftime.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson came on in relief of Watson but was later lost to a finger injury, and veteran Jameis Winston finished out the contest.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Monday that Thompson-Robinson's status is not currently known, and they are waiting on more tests to determine the severity of the injury and if surgery could be necessary.
"Just need to hear from a couple of people," Stefanski said. "I feel good about him being available this season. Is it this week? Is it next week? I just need more information."
It is not yet clear who is expected to take over starting duties for Watson. The Browns (1-6) face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.
Sunday's game marked the first time this season that Thompson-Robinson was in the No. 2 role over Winston, and Stefanski was asked on Monday what led to that decision.
"Going into the season, I felt that both guys were worthy of being the backup quarterback," Stefanski told reporters. "I told those guys that early in the season. I felt like with not having that short-yardage package with Jameis in this last game, felt like Dorian had acquitted himself well in practice and in his preparation to make him the backup."
Watson is currently in the third year of a five-year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract he signed after he was traded from the Houston Texans to the Browns in March 2022. He is due to make $92 million over the next two seasons ($46 million in 2025 and 2026).
The 29-year-old signal-caller has failed to make the impact that Cleveland had hoped for when the team sent three first-round draft picks and two other selections to Houston to acquire a QB in Watson who had made the Pro Bowl in three of his first four seasons before he sat out the entire 2021 campaign amid a trade request and allegations of sexual misconduct in massage sessions.
Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. In the six games following his suspension in 2022, Watson did not look like his former self, completing a career-worst 58.2 percent of his passes.
The Browns QB started just six games during an injury-marred 2023 season that necessitated season-ending shoulder surgery last November, and his struggles continued into 2024.
Watson entered Sunday with just five touchdown passes in six games for the Browns, who have failed to score 20 or more points in a game this season. He finishes his 2024 campaign with a 63.4 completion percentage, 1,148 passing yards, six total TDs (one rushing), three interceptions and a league-leading 33 sacks.
Stefanski was asked on Monday if he believes Watson will be the team's starting quarterback once he is healthy next season.
"Obviously, I believe in Deshaun," Stefanski said. "But I also think it's important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury. Bad break for him, and we're feeling bad for him and know that he'll bounce back. But not getting to all those things down the road."
