3:50pm: When speaking about Watson’s injury after Cleveland’s loss, Stefanski confirmed the team’s fear is an Achilles tear. Further testing will be needed for confirmation, but in all likelihood Thompson-Robinson (who himself exited the contest due to a finger injury) or Winston will be leaned on for the remainder of the campaign.
2:20pm: Deshaun Watson remained atop the Browns’ quarterback depth chart to begin Week 7, but he has since exited the team’s ongoing contest. Watson suffered a non-contact injury affecting his right leg (video link), and he was carted off the field shortly thereafter.
Watson has since been diagnosed with an Achilles injury, per a team announcement. A tear has not been confirmed yet, but the possibility of that season-ending ailment is obviously high. Cleveland does indeed fear Watson suffered a tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Further testing will be needed to confirm the worst-case scenario, but if that does take place the Browns will be forced to look at other quarterback options. Questions have been raised throughout the year about a change under center with Watson struggling mightily in 2024. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has repeatedly offered endorsements of the blockbuster trade acquisition (and not at the behest of ownership), who remains attached to the five-year, $230MM deal he signed upon arrival. That pact is guaranteed in full, ensuring Watson will remain in place beyond this season.
The former Texans Pro Bowler is owed $92MM over the final two years of his pact, and restructures have left him positioned to carry massive cap hits during that span. Likewise, any decision to cut him would lead to enormous dead money charges, while finding a trade partner would be impossible without sending notable draft capital to an acquiring team. For the time being, attention will turn to his recovery process after a second consecutive season-ending injury.
Watson dealt with a shoulder ailment which limited him to six games last year. Considering he was suspended for the first 11 contests of the 2022 campaign stemming from his sexual misconduct lawsuits, missed time was already a key element of his Browns tenure. Presuming the 29-year-old is indeed facing a torn Achilles, that will be the case to an even greater degree. Given the recovery timeline for such injuries, being healthy in time for the start of the 2025 campaign will likely be a challenge.
In the meantime, newly-promoted backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson will take over. The 2023 fifth-rounder made three starts during his rookie campaign, one during which the Browns cycled through several signal-callers and landed on Joe Flacco as their preferred starter. The veteran did not receive an offer to remain in Cleveland during free agency, however, and he took the Colts’ QB2 gig. Thompson-Robinson saw Tyler Huntley (who was eventually released) and Jameis Winston added to the mix this spring.
Winston has 80 starts to his name, but so far this season he has only attempted a single pass. Thompson-Robinson’s status as backup for today will give him the opportunity to stake a claim to the first-team role for the coming weeks. If he should struggle in that capacity, Winston will be available as an experienced option. Either way, Watson should not be expected to be on the field any time soon.
Poor guy (nope)
I wish there was a hot mike at line of scrimmage and near the the qb. Can you imagine the trash talk these players must heap on Watson? And you don’t even have to be original, the one liners just write themselves!
How many massages does he have scheduled to treat this injury?
I suppose it could be worse. They could have the officials from the Georgia -Texas game last night permanently assigned to their games all year. My God what a debacle that was.
Yeah that was terrible officiating. The holding call was bad (and I’m a die hard UGA fan). But the Refs clearly caved to the crowd which is bad for football in general….Kirby said it perfectly: “You’ve set a precedent now, if you throw trash on field you might be able to get calls overturned”
It takes a lot for me to say that that’s the worst officiated game I’ve ever seen. But that was just plain horrible. It wasn’t even that that was the worst call but there were at least 20 blown calls I could make a case for. That crew should never be assembled again. Even to work a Pee Wee Football Game. They shouldn’t even be allowed to PLAY Madden.
Great timing to Pi** off Winston. Does this team ever do anything right? LMAO
They have cover to not play him now. They were never going to bench him.
As my old man used to say, ” They( Browns in this case) , Could screw up cornflakes. Except he didn’t say screw.
Karma is a b
My goodness, this is what it took to get him out of the starting job, too bad, hate to be happy but…..
Another victim might have done it.
It was(n’t) nice knowing you
I almost always find it crappy to take joy in an injury, but…
This injury to Watson is going to be a big hit to the Browns chances at getting the top pick in next year’s draft
the gift that keeps on giving
He hasn’t done anything in Cleveland. This may easily be the worst trade in history.
That was the worst trade in NFL history before the injury, easily. They gave up valuable assets and extended Watson knowing -KNOWING- what he had done. There is no level of incompetence in the league, at least with trades, that comes remotely close to that.
Everyone can already see that Watson was washed this season, too. Now that he’s going to be hobbled by an Achilles, he may somehow find a way to be worse. Forget him not wanting to run, he simply may not be able.
I feel bad for the Browns fans that didn’t defend this acquisition when it happened. They deserve better than being forced to watch these clowns that run this circus. That franchise isn’t just an embarrassment, it’s a complete joke.
Not only all that—including a contract so ludicrous it still hasn’t been topped—but he’d already had a very significant injury history, too.
It’s probably for the best
The jokes here… I understand the place it’s coming from, but the dude just suffered a crippling injury. I hope he gets well soon. I promise all of you, if you get mangled in a car accident or something, I promise I won’t laugh at you. I’ll wish you the best.
Well said….you knew all the immediate comments (see above) would say “Karma”, “couldn’t happen to better a person” blah blah blah, etc. People love throwing stones and tearing down others. Not condoning anything, but none of us truly know what happened and celebrating an injury reveals people and their own true terrible characteristic traits smh
I hope he makes a remarkable recovery – and then tears it again on his first snap after returning
@Jackson99…just see a prime example of @css2 for a good reference
Victim blaming also says a lot about a person’s character.
I absolutely agree…the irony of your own comment I’m sure is lost on you however
Victim blaming aka saying “nobody knows what happened” to those women. 99% of NFL players play their career without getting sued. But, I’m sure Deshaun’s 24 lawsuits are just a coincidence.
Watson may have tore his Achilles and he deserves it according to you correct? So you’re blaming the victim correct?…aka Victim blaming (according to your standards…correct?) I’m not saying Watson is good or bad person, but i would never celebrate someone’s injury. That’s you apparently. Love thy neighbor and your enemies regardless of their character.
You have issues, bro. Forget about him for a sec, think about what this reply says about you! Psycho? Maybe. Petty? Absolutely. He might be a bad guy, but you might be too! Think about it.
it was a non-contact injury; maybe someone else feels the same way about Watson
Achilles tears are not crippling. Give me a break. Car wrecks ruin a lot of lives. Achilles injuries are mostly ruinous for athletes who haven’t gotten their payday yet.
Damn he’s gonna get more lawsuits coming unless they give him male nurses only.
It was a wise decision by the team to place Winston as their 3rd stringer today!
I’m glad Jameis will get once last chance to show something. I hope he does something with it. I always kind of liked him. Good luck man!
Browns “fear” an achilles tear? No. I’m sure Stefanski is secretly pleased he can move on from Watson for the year without the distraction of actually benching Watson.
Fear?