Quarterback Deshaun Watson appeared to suffer a serious knee injury during the Cleveland Browns‘ 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7.
Watson dropped back to pass during the second quarter of Sunday’s game and then suddenly fell to his knees. He was visibly distressed and was soon taken off the field.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirmed this belief on Monday, revealing Watson. tore his Achilles tendon And he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
This is the third consecutive year that Watson has been unable to play an entire season due to suspension or injury since joining the Browns in 2022. It also raises questions about whether Watson would have played in the Finals in Cleveland.
Not only has the 29-year-old played in just 19 games over the past three years, he hasn’t performed well when healthy, passing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Watson’s 9-10 record wasn’t what the Browns imagined when they signed him to a five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract in exchange for a ransom that included three first-round picks.
But the team now has no choice but to move on without him for the remainder of this season, and possibly forever, depending on how the rest of the season goes.
That could be difficult, as Watson is scheduled to make $92 million over the next two seasons ($46 million in 2025 and 2026). But if the season ended today, Cleveland 3rd place overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
That will put the team in a good position to land a quarterback when they’re ready to move on. This year’s quarterback draft class doesn’t seem as stacked as last year’s, but it’s still worth hitting the refresh button.
In the meantime, the Browns will have roles with quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston, who threw for 149 total yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on Sunday.
Neither would increase Cleveland’s chances of contending this season, which increases the likelihood that the team will finish the year with a high draft pick.
The Browns have refused to admit that the decision to go all in on Watson was a terrible idea. Perhaps his injury will allow him to finally come to terms with that over the final 11 weeks of the season.
Cleveland hosts the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) in Week 8.
