Despite being 3-10 heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns expect quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), reigning NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry to return in 2025, according to sources. Watson's role, however, is up in the air with the Browns moving forward after he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear midseason. Cleveland traded three first-round picks to the Texans to acquire Watson in 2022 and then signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. Since joining the team, he has played in just 19 games and has posted a weak 80.7 passer rating when on the field. A post-June 1 release of Watson would create around $119 million in dead money, which would be the most in NFL history. The Browns are stuck with Watson for now, and he'll be off the fantasy radar coming off his serious injury in 2025.
Deshaun Watson Likely To Remain With Browns, Could Face Competition
There's an "overwhelming likelihood" that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will remain with the team in 2025, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. However, the Browns are expected to "work to put competition in the quarterback room, either through the draft or free agency," Breer said. This is an important development given that there has been significant speculation about Watson's future in Cleveland. Per Breer's understanding, Watson will be given the chance to recover from his Achilles tear and regain the starting role in Cleveland, but it won't merely be given to him as easily as it was ahead of the 2024 season. Rather, the veteran quarterback will have to get healthy and beat out competition if he has any shot at starting in Week 1 next year.
Browns Not Ruling Out A Future With Deshaun Watson
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Barry said "it's always possible" that quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will return to play football for the team again after he recovers from his torn Achilles. Watson had surgery to fix his torn right Achilles last Friday, and barring a setback in his lengthy rehab, the 29-year-old signal-caller should be ready for the start of the 2025 season next fall. Before his injury, though, Watson looked like the worst QB in the league, completing 63.4 percent of his 216 pass attempts for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while taking a league-high 33 sacks in just seven games. Since joining the team in 2022, Watson has been injured and ineffective, completing 61.2% of his passes with 19 TDs and 12 picks. He's due $46 million in each of the next two seasons, which is a lot of money to pay an ineffective and oft-injured QB.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) underwent successful surgery on Friday. He's expected to make a full recovery. The signal-caller suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the divisional matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, ending his season. Watson had a year to forget in 2024-25, throwing for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also completed only 63.4% of his attempts. For now, Watson will focus on his rehab efforts, although it will be a while before he returns to the field. But it's unknown If he's already played his final game as a Cleveland Brown. Without Watson at the helm, Jameis Winston will take over under center. While the Browns offense isn't the best, Winston has a place in multi-quarterback formats for Week 8 versus the Baltimore Ravens.
Deshaun Watson Facing Nine-Month Recovery From Achilles Injury
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is set to undergo surgery on Friday with Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon, according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot. Watson suffered the season-ending injury in the Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and is facing a ninth-month recovery timeline. The former first-round pick by the Houston Texans did not flash in his first two seasons with Cleveland, and his 2024 season was off to a disastrous start. He completed 64.3% of his passes for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions as Cleveland got out to a 1-6 record. Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to be the starter moving forward, and Watson's future with the Browns is uncertain.
Browns Officially Place Deshaun Watson On Injured Reserve
The Cleveland Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) on Injured Reserve due to a torn Achilles, effectively ending his 2024 season. In a corresponding move, Bailey Zappe was officially signed to the active roster off of the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. Watson could have played in his last career game with the Browns after suffering the serious injury. If so, his final numbers as Brown will read 3,365 yards passing, 19 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 19 games. Zappe, who spent the last two seasons with the New England Patriots, will likely back up Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is set to miss the rest of the 2024 season after going down during Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Watson suffered a torn Achilles that is going to sideline him for the rest of 2024 and figures to keep him out part of next season. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is hopeful for Watson's recovery, but the organization doesn't seem fully committed to Watson going forward. This is now the second straight season that Watson will have a season-ending injury. When healthy, Watson has looked lackluster on the field, which isn't helping his case. The Browns have fallen to 1-6 with the loss on Sunday. The organization would be foolish to overlook taking a possible franchise quarterback if they get the chance in the draft. Watson is still owed $44.2 million for next season, but that doesn't sound like it's going to stop Cleveland from trying to find their next franchise quarterback.
Deshaun Watson Officially Out For The Season With Torn Achilles
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles in the Week 7 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to a source, and his 2024 season is over. According to The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot, Watson will undergo surgery soon, and he's deciding between the conventional surgery and the new "speed-bridge" procedure that Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has last year. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also did Watson's shoulder surgery, got Rodgers back on the practice field within 77 days, around four months faster than with a traditional Achilles repair. The 29-year-old's future with Cleveland could now be in question, especially since he's unlikely to be ready for the start of next season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) took over for Watson on Sunday, but it could be Jameis Winston making the start in Week 8 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering a serious-looking, non-contact injury during the second quarter. He was having one of his best games of the year at the time of his departure, completing 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards. He also took two sacks. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Browns fear Watson tore his Achilles, which would end his season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Watson late in the first half, and he will presumably remain Cleveland's starting quarterback going forward. Jameis Winston, who is inactive as the Browns' emergency third quarterback this week, could also compete for playing time going forward.
Deshaun Watson Suffers Non-Contact Injury, May Have Torn Achilles
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (leg) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering a serious-looking, non-contact injury. He was having one of his best games of the year at the time of his departure, completing 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards. He also took two sacks. Based on footage from the CBS broadcast and analysis from Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Watson might have suffered an Achilles tear. Still, he'll have to undergo additional testing before the Browns confirm any sort of diagnosis. In the event that his season is over, Dorian Thompson-Robinson would presumably step up as the Browns' starting quarterback, with Jameis Winston also a candidate to earn playing time.
Deshaun Watson
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Browns
