Deshaun Watson’s turbulent time with the Cleveland Browns has taken another dramatic turn, as his third season with the team appears to have come to a premature and potentially devastating end. The embattled quarterback was carted off the field during Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, after suffering what is feared to be a serious Achilles tendon injury on a non-contact play.
This latest injury is likely to sideline Watson for the remainder of the 2024 season, a major blow to both the player and the franchise.
During a press conference following the game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed concern about Watson’s condition. “It looks like it’s serious and could end his season,” Stefanski said, though he noted that the team was still awaiting final test results. However, all signs point to Watson missing the remainder of the season, marking yet another setback in what has been a rocky tenure with the Browns.
Watson sustained the injury late in the first half on a second-down play at the Cincinnati 21-yard line. As he planted his right leg to throw, his Achilles appeared to give way, causing him to collapse to the ground in visible pain. Watson immediately grabbed his head in disbelief and distress as the Browns’ medical team rushed to his aid.
RELATED: Fans Speculate Browns QB Deshaun Watson is Operating Multiple Burner Accounts
Teammates, as well as players from the Bengals, gathered around Watson in a show of solidarity as he was attended to. The scene was emotional, and Watson, who has faced immense scrutiny since his arrival in Cleveland, pulled a towel over his head as he was carted off the field to applause from many in the stands.
However, not all of the reactions from the Cleveland crowd were supportive. When Watson initially fell to the ground, some fans cheered, and others chanted for backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to take his place. This reaction sparked outrage from within the Browns’ locker room.
Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was particularly appalled by the behavior of some fans. “We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone in their moment of downfall,” Garrett said after the game. “No one deserves that, especially when they’re putting their body on the line.”
Third-string quarterback Jameis Winston also weighed in, expressing his disappointment with the lack of empathy shown toward Watson. “I’m very upset with the reaction to a man who’s had the world against him for the past four years,” Winston said. “He puts his body and life on the line for this city every single day. I understand the fans’ hunger for success, but the way I was raised, you don’t kick a man when he’s down.”
Watson’s time in Cleveland has been tumultuous, both on and off the field. The Browns traded three first-round picks to acquire the three-time Pro Bowler from the Houston Texans and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022—one of the largest and most controversial deals in NFL history.
His first season with the team was marred by an 11-game suspension handed down by the NFL following sexual assault and harassment allegations from more than two dozen women during massage therapy sessions in Texas. Watson settled numerous civil lawsuits, but the legal and public fallout has continued to cloud his career.
In his second season with the Browns, Watson’s performance was inconsistent, and a shoulder injury that required surgery cut his year short after just six starts.
This season, Watson has struggled once again to live up to expectations, leading some fans and pundits to call for Stefanski to bench him. He was even booed by sections of the Cleveland crowd during pregame introductions.
Before the injury on Sunday, Watson had completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards and was sacked twice. Despite his efficient stat line, the Browns’ offense failed to find much rhythm. Thompson-Robinson came in to replace Watson but later exited the game with a finger injury.
Winston, listed as the third-string quarterback, was passed over in favor of Thompson-Robinson for the first time this season, adding to the sense of disarray in Cleveland’s quarterback situation.
The Browns’ investment in Watson has been a gamble that has yet to pay off on the field, with the franchise mortgaging much of its short-term future for the quarterback. Cleveland hoped Watson would be the missing piece to lead the team to championship contention, but so far, he has made more headlines off the field than on it.
In addition to the past allegations, the NFL is still investigating a recent claim of sexual assault against Watson, which was settled confidentially earlier this year.
As the Browns face the possibility of losing Watson for the remainder of the season, the team must now regroup and figure out their next steps.
With Watson’s future uncertain and a fanbase divided, Cleveland’s once-promising season has taken a dramatic and disappointing turn.
