Deshaun Watson’s season is over.
Potentially, so is his time in Cleveland.
The former Houston Texans and current Browns quarterback suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon during Sunday’s 21-14 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals and will miss the rest of the 2024 season.
Just after the two-minute warning, Watson dropped to the ground and grabbed at the back of his leg. He was loaded onto a cart and greeted by several of his teammates, who came over to offer their condolences.
As being taken back to the locker room, it appeared that Watson was crying as he wiped his face with a towel. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said the injury did look like a season-ender even before the MRI.
Multiple players also called out Browns fans for booing the former Pro Bowl passer as he was being carted off.
“We don’t boo guys that are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out,” defensive end Myles Garrett told reporters. “We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall.”
Deshaun Watson is emotional as he’s carted off the field in Cleveland pic.twitter.com/IwHpZ53gy0
— NFL on CBS
(@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
It’s clear the Texans walk away as winners from the Watson trade orchestrated in the 2022 offseason. After missing most of the 2022 season due to suspension, Watson struggled in 2023.
Entering Sunday’s game, Watson had the lowest passer rating among all qualified quarterbacks. Through six games, Watson had totaled 1,020 yards passing with five touchdowns against three interceptions.
He also led the Browns to a 1-5 record.
Myles Garrett clearly upset with fans booing Deshaun Watson’s injury. Said Watson “does pretty much everything right. He’s been a model citizen through college and most of the pros.” pic.twitter.com/gElBYyI2Ym
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 20, 2024
Even if Cleveland were to cut ties with Watson, it still would owe him $46 million in each of the next two seasons after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam dished out a new $230 million guaranteed contract following the trade. Meanwhile, Houston just finished using all the draft capital acquired in the deal and sits at 5-2.
Houston has a future with a new quarterback in C.J. Stroud, who remains in the hunt for the MVP conversation as the Texans return to NRG Stadium for their Week 8 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
Cleveland, which traded for Watson to shore up its quarterback situation, returns to the drawing board to find its long-term answer.