Deshaun Watson’s troubled time with Cleveland has taken another major turn. It looks like his third season is over.
The struggling quarterback was taken off the field on a cart after injuring his right Achilles tendon on a noncontact play against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After Cleveland’s 21-14 loss, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that it “looks like” Watson’s injury is serious and will end his season. The team was still waiting for test results, but it seems unlikely that Watson will play again in 2024.
Watson, who hasn’t met expectations in his two-plus seasons with the team, fell without being hit on a second-down play with 1:26 left in the first half. He dropped back to throw at the Cincinnati 21-yard line, and when he planted his foot, his right leg buckled, causing him to collapse.
Watson quickly put his hands on his head while lying on the ground in clear pain. Cleveland’s trainers hurried to help him, soon joined by all of the Browns’ players and some Bengals players who came over from their sideline to show their support.
As he was taken off the field, Watson, whose arrival in Cleveland has divided fans, covered his head with a towel while some fans cheered.
However, when he first fell, there were fans who applauded. Some even chanted for the Browns to bring in backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was appalled by the fans’ reactions. “We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall,” Garrett said. “No one deserves that.
Third-string quarterback Jameis Winston expressed his strong feelings about the reaction to Watson’s injury.
“I’m very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years,” Winston said. “He put his body and life on the line for this city every single day. I know the standard that hungry fans want, but the way I was raised, I would never pull on a man when he is down.”
Cleveland signed Watson to a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract in 2022. He faced an 11-game suspension by the NFL in his first year with the team, and his second season was cut short after just six starts due to a shoulder injury that needed surgery.
Watson has struggled this season, leading to calls for coach Stefanski to bench him. He was booed during the pregame introductions.
Before getting hurt, Watson completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards and was sacked twice. Thompson-Robinson took over but hurt his finger in the fourth quarter after being chosen over Winston for the first time this season.
The Browns gave up a lot for Watson, trading three first-round draft picks to Houston for the three-time Pro Bowler. The 28-year-old has made more news for off-field issues than for his play.
He has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by over two dozen women for inappropriate behavior during massage therapy sessions in Texas. Watson settled many civil lawsuits that were filed against him.
The league is still looking into a recent claim against Watson made by a woman who accused him of sexual assault. Watson recently reached a confidential settlement to resolve that case.
