Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was carted off the field and in tears after sustaining an apparent right Achilles injury on a non-contact play during Cleveland’s game against the Bengals on Sunday.
He was ruled out of the game, and NFL Network reported that he likely tore his Achilles — which would be a second consecutive season-ending injury for Watson.
With the Browns driving and facing a second-and-6 late in the second quarter, Watson took the snap, hesitated and pivoted up the middle on a designed run before crumpling to the field.
Deshaun Watson suffered a suspected Achilles injury in his right leg during the Browns’ game on Oct. 20. Screengrab via X/@jmthriveptCleveland players surrounded their quarterback — in the middle of a disappointing year during the Browns’ disappointing 1-5 start — as he was helped onto the cart, and Watson pulled a towel over his face while getting driven to the locker room.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback with Jameis Winston surprisingly inactive Sunday, and after a defensive pass interference penalty, the Browns were able to cap the drive with a touchdown on running back Nick Chubb’s touchdown run.
Deshaun Watson sustained a suspected Achilles injury while attempting a quarterback run on Oct. 20. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Deshaun Watson exited after a non-contact injury on Oct. 20. Screengrab via X/@NFLonCBSWatson, who signed a controversial five-year, $230 million contract extension with the Browns in 2022 amid what would become two dozen allegations of sexual assault, has appeared in just 19 games since arriving in Cleveland via trade — with six starts in 2022, six in 2023 and seven this year, including Sunday’s game.
He helped the Browns to a 5-1 record last year before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, but despite head coach Kevin Stefanski sticking with Watson for the first portion of 2024 despite a nearly invisible offense, he kept producing brutal results and caused Cleveland’s season to start spiraling.
Deshaun Watson exited the Browns’ game on Oct. 20 with a suspected Achilles injury. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Entering Sunday, he’d thrown for just 1,020 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
The horrendous start prompted the Browns to trade Amari Cooper, their No. 1 wide receiver, to the Bills earlier in the week, too — signaling a bleak reality even before the trade deadline arrived.
Deshaun Watson was in tears while leaving the field after sustaining a non-contact injury on Oct. 20. Screengrab via X/@NFLonCBS
APWatson’s off-field issues — from the allegations and court cases to the year-long suspension in 2021 that stemmed from the assault claims — provided a harrowing backdrop to his stint with the Browns, with the latest civil lawsuit getting settled earlier this month for an undisclosed amount.
ESPN reported that fans inside the Browns’ stadium even cheered Sunday when Watson sustained his Achilles injury and was replaced by Thompson-Robinson.
