Deshaun Watson

Browns, QB Deshaun Watson Agree On Reworked Contract

December 27th, 2024 at 10:42pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns and veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed to new terms on his fully guaranteed $230MM contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The new terms do not affect the amount of money Watson will receive over the final two years of the deal but will impact Cleveland’s cap commitment over the next several seasons.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Watson’s income will not be affected. In signing the reworked deal, Watson is not taking a pay cut from the remaining funds due to him. Over the next two seasons, Watson is set to earn $46MM per year. What the new contract does do is move some of the cap hit from the deal into new voidable years. The deal before today already had two void years tacked on after the contract ends in 2027, and with today’s updates, the deal will now have a total of four void years.

Seemingly, what this move indicates, is that Cleveland has not yet given up on Watson as their franchise quarterback. Despite how disastrous the contract has worked out towards this purpose to date, the Browns seem to be saying that Watson should return next year as the team’s starting quarterback. His contract has him set for free agency following the 2026 season, meaning he could be the Browns’ passer for both years.

Four years ago, this wouldn’t have sounded like a bad deal. After an impressive rookie season, in which Watson threw for 19 touchdowns in only six starts, was cut short due to injury, the young quarterback out of Clemson delivered three straight Pro Bowl seasons for the Texans, leading the league in passing yards in his final year with the team.

His fifth-year option was exercised, but Watson became disgruntled with the front office and coaching staff, leading to a trade request. During the contract and trade negotiations, a number of sexual harassment allegations emerged, draping Watson in controversy. Between the contract issues and allegations, Watson would sit out the entire 2021 season. Despite missing a year and being plagued with potential for suspension, the Browns sent a massive draft package in exchange for Watson and signed him to the largest, most-guaranteed contract in NFL history.

The allegations resulted in an 11-game suspension to begin his Browns’ tenure. In the two seasons since, Watson has missed a total of 21 games with injury. His short healthy spurt in 2023 saw him go 5-1 in six starts, while a seven-game stretch this season saw him go 1-6. So far, Cleveland’s massive investment has resulted in 19 starts and a 9-10 record. Luckily, as most teams are wont to do, the Browns insured Watson’s contract so that they receive some cap relief for his missed time.

Along with spreading out some of the cap impact, the Browns’ new deal with Watson should make the impact of cutting him a bit easier, should they choose to do so. On his previous deal, Watson would’ve represented $119MM in dead money if cut as a post-June 1 release before the 2025 season. Similarly, the number would reduce only to $73MM before 2026. Theoretically, those numbers should reduce under the new terms.

Ensuring that Watson comes back next year doesn’t mean the team won’t address the position in the offseason, though. The team is reportedly doing their research on secondary options to compete with Watson and fill in in case of further injury issues. There’s certainly a chance that the secondary quarterback could be Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson, though Winston is set to hit free agency, but a quarterback in the draft is certainly an option, as well. For now, though, the adjusted contract sets the table for Watson to return as the 2025 starter.

Browns Likely To Complete Another Deshaun Watson Restructure

December 15th, 2024 at 10:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Browns in a historically unique spot regarding Deshaun Watson, they are not in a good position to release a player who has flopped after a blockbuster trade. Even though both Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry stopped short of indicating Watson would be the Browns’ starting quarterback in 2025, he is expected to stay in Cleveland beyond this season.

Not only will Watson be staying despite his mostly woeful play, the high-priced passer will be given another chance to vie for the Browns’ starting job. The team still believes the eighth-year veteran can play at a high level, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, who adds that another restructure is likely on tap.

Two previous restructures have ballooned Watson’s 2025 cap hit to $72.9MM, which would shatter the NFL record. Kyler Murray‘s $49.2MM 2024 number represents the NFL high for a single player, and the Browns are not keen on having Watson smash that record by staying on that lofty number next year. Of course, if/once the Browns complete another restructure with Watson, it will complicate their eventual exit route from what currently resides as the worst contract in NFL history.

The most recent woman to accuse Watson of sexual assault settled her civil suit with the embattled QB, and her attorney confirmed no talks with the NFL commenced. The league closed its investigation without a second suspension coming to pass. This keeps the Browns on the hook for Watson’s guaranteed salaries, as part of a fully guaranteed deal (five years, $230MM), in 2025 and ’26. Had the Browns not restructured Watson’s contract in 2023 and 2024, the QB’s cap number would have settled in south of Murray’s record-setter in 2025, at least putting a release in play. The adjustments that created cap space over the past two years are currently hindering the Browns here.

Cleveland cannot realistically cut Watson in 2025. The August restructure Berry completed would create $172MM in dead money in that event. While that could be spread out over two years, that sum would make it untenable — even in a world in which the Broncos cut Russell Wilson to spur a dead cap avalanche — for the Browns to operate. Instead, the sides will be stuck with each other for at least one more season.

Prior to tearing an Achilles tendon, Watson performed poorly enough Stefanski regularly received questions about why he remained the Browns’ starter and whether higher-ranking members in the organization were mandating that remain the case. Stefanski denied anyone beyond him was making that call, and other Browns coaches agreed he was the team’s best option. Jameis Winston, his high-variance style notwithstanding, has proven to be a more effective QB this season. The Browns were playing without multiple O-line starters for most of Watson’s run this season, though the former Texans Pro Bowler has been a shell of his Houston version during most of his Cleveland stay.

The Browns are also planning to add another starter-caliber QB for 2025, Cabot notes, indicating the injured incumbent is still in a walking boot but on schedule in his recovery from a second season-ending surgery in two years (after his 2023 shoulder operation). This follows a report that indicated a competition is at least coming, though Watson’s contract will limit the Browns’ options in finding a potential replacement.

That said, Cleveland restructuring Watson’s deal would allow for help in that area. As of now, it would cost the Browns $99MM-plus to cut Watson in 2026; that number would be defrayed over two offseasons. A third restructure, though, would bump a 2026 dead money total well north of $100MM. As it stands, the Browns appear prepared to deal with that when the time comes.

While it would stand to reason the Browns would strongly look into dismissing Berry after he proposed this contract, Jimmy Haslam backed his HC-GM combo earlier this week. They will be tasked with finding what could be a job-saving solution at quarterback soon.

NFL Closes Latest Deshaun Watson Investigation; Browns QB Will Not Be Suspended

December 6th, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The subject of another NFL investigation due to a woman’s sexual assault claim, Deshaun Watson settled with his most recent accuser recently. That was believed to effectively close the door on another NFL suspension. That is now official.

Watson is not set to be banned in connection with that alleged crime, with cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reporting the NFL has closed its investigation without finding sufficient evidence the Browns quarterback violated the personal conduct policy. Although Watson’s Cleveland future is cloudy, he is not set to face a second suspension. He missed 11 games due to an NFL-NFLPA settlement in 2022, a ban that began a wildly disappointing Browns tenure.

The QB’s latest known accuser settling her civil suit, one that alleged sexual assault in an October 2020 incident, was set to prevent her cooperating with a league investigation. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, confirmed (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) his client did not meet with the NFL. As such, it would have been difficult for the NFL to conclude the quarterback definitively violated the league’s personal conduct policy. This was the expected outcome, and Watson will remain tied to the NFL’s most player-friendly contract without any changes coming about.

A suspension in connection with this alleged incident represented perhaps the Browns’ last chance to see their dead money bill lightened. But the team faced an uphill battle thanks to the player-friendly contract it authorized.

Personal conduct policy bans regularly void guarantees, but the Browns included language in Watson’s deal to protect him. The former Texans Pro Bowler having not disclosed this incident to the team prior to his latest restructure would have left the door open to future guarantees being voided, but Watson denied all wrongdoing in this case. The QB’s account indicating he was not aware of this particular accuser’s claim would have left the Browns in an interesting spot, due to how they designed his contract, even if he were suspended once again.

As it stands, Watson’s five-year, $230MM deal runs through 2026. With the once-highly coveted QB not coming close to delivering on expectations, it is fair to label this the worst trade and contract in NFL history. The Browns are expected to shop for another starter in 2025, but Watson’s contract being so difficult to move — a status boosted by the two restructures GM Andrew Berry completed — effectively keeps him in limbo beyond this year. The Browns are not expected to cut Watson in 2025, as that would bring an astonishing $172MM in dead money over the ’25 and ’26 offseasons combined.

Cleveland is not expected to fire Berry or HC Kevin Stefanski, despite their lead roles in a disastrous 2022 trade. Watson, 29, is rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in October. Jameis Winston has operated as the Browns’ starter since, offering the highs and lows that have become associated with the former No. 1 overall pick’s career. Winston is a free agent at season’s end. Watson may be in the background for the Browns for now, with neither Berry nor Stefanski guaranteeing he would start again for the team. But no suspension coming to pass will put Watson on track to be a major part of the Browns’ future once again — once he completes his rehab process.

Andrew Berry: Browns Brass Was Aligned On 2022 Deshaun Watson Trade

November 6th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Browns sink to the AFC North basement following the offseason extensions for Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski, assigning blame for the Deshaun Watson decisions will come up as the organization moves forward.

Jimmy Haslam came out and said his GM hatched the plan to propose Watson the fully guaranteed $230MM. That contract call prompted the quarterback to waive his no-trade clause for Cleveland after he had previously eliminated the team from consideration. Two-plus years after Haslam’s comments, Berry said the organization was in agreement on the move.

Asked if ownership mandated the Watson trade cross the goal line two years ago, Berry said (via ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi) “All of us were on board.” This aligns with a recent report indicating Stefanski was in agreement with Berry about the trade, one that led Baker Mayfield to Charlotte and ultimately has the Browns in a historic predicament.

Watson’s Achilles tear prevented Stefanski from making the decision to bench the high-priced starter, as the fifth-year Browns HC had repeatedly said the embattled QB gave the team the best chance to win. Watson ranks last in QBR. When asked if a healthy Watson would play for the Browns again, Berry said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot), “It’s always possible.” Stefanski had declined to confirm, due largely to Watson’s health, the QB would be his 2025 starter.

Berry, who was hired two weeks after Stefanski in 2020, said the two-time Coach of the Year is “part of the solution,” via the Akron Beacon Journal’s Chris Easterling. If ownership is to move on despite signing Berry and Stefanski to extensions (of unknown length), it would be unexpected that one would stay and the other would go. So, Berry’s endorsement may not carry too much weight here. At 2-7 and with Watson’s guarantees running through 2026, the Browns’ power duo should certainly not be considered locks to return in 2025.

The Browns outflanked the Falcons to land Watson, whom the Panthers and Saints also pursued as finalists three offseasons ago. All teams had agreed on trade terms with the Texans, who collected a historic haul for the Pro Bowl QB. Berry has seen his ability to build a roster around Watson take a hit due to the Browns not having a first-round pick since the trade. The Browns became the first team since the 1976 49ers (Jim Plunkett) to trade three first-rounders for a veteran QB; to say the deal has backfired would be a mild assessment of the situation.

Watson has not fit in Stefanski’s offense, with his play further declining despite the Browns booting OC Alex Van Pelt for Ken Dorsey this year. Dorsey is now calling the plays in Cleveland, with Stefanski stepping back for the first time in his tenure, but Jameis Winston — a Watson-backed QB addition — is at the controls. When asked if he regrets not bringing back Joe Flacco, who said repeatedly he wanted to return after his Comeback Player of the Year campaign, Berry responded (via Easterling) the he has “a lot of confidence” in the Browns’ current QB room. Flacco said the Browns did not offer him a deal.

Helping build rosters that feature a host of eight-figure-per-year players, Berry authorized two restructures of Watson’s contract — the second of which coming in August. That created cap space in 2023 and 2024 but has two monster cap numbers staring at the Browns for 2025 and ’26. Watson is due to count $72.9MM on Cleveland’s next two payrolls. With the eighth-year player settling his latest civil suit, the chances the Browns are bailed out by a second personal conduct suspension have been reduced. Though, an NFL investigation continues.

As it stands, the Browns are on the hook for two more fully guaranteed $46MM base salaries — and the inflated cap hits that came from the restructures. It would cost the Browns $172MM to cut Watson in 2025, and even though that would be spread over two years in a post-June 1 transaction, the sum would more than double the current single-player dead money record — Russell Wilson‘s $83MM-plus tab the Broncos are navigating. Wilson’s dead cap more than doubling the previous single-player record illustrates how far into uncharted territory the Browns are because of their controversial 2022 trade.

When asked about how Watson’s contract will hinder the Browns down the road, Berry responded (via Cabot) “We’ll be able to build a team” regardless of that deal being on the books. Whether Berry is around to make those decisions will be perhaps the lead Browns storyline entering the 2025 offseason.

While Haslam authorized Berry and Stefanski extensions, the owner has been quite active in firing HCs and execs during his 13-year tenure. Will the Watson decisions sink both Berry and Stefanski (or just one?), or will ownership exercise uncharacteristic patience following this season’s significant step back?

Browns Brass Agreed Deshaun Watson Was Team’s Best Starter Option

November 1st, 2024 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The first third of the Browns’ season brought consistent scrutiny on Kevin Stefanski‘s decision to keep starting Deshaun Watson. The former Texans Pro Bowler had rarely resembled his Houston version in Cleveland and had bottomed out this season, producing the league’s worst QBR among qualified passers during his seven starts.

Weekly calls for Watson to be benched rang out, but with Browns ownership and GM Andrew Berry not making themselves available to address this big-picture issue, Stefanski continued to do so. Stefanski had kept indicating Watson would not be benched, but the two-time NFL Coach of the Year shed some light on the organization’s decision-making process by confirming he had discussed the matter with Berry and the team’s ownership. It appears the parties were aligned on the decision to avoid benching the struggling starter.

While Stefanski had said ownership was not forcing him to keep starting Watson, who remains tied to a record-shattering guarantee ($230MM), ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi notes the choice to stay the course was agreed upon at all organizational levels. Watson’s Week 8 Achilles tear, of course, changed the Browns’ plan. Although the injury conceivably clouds Watson’s future in Cleveland, his guarantees for 2025 and ’26 — which are currently slated to smash NFL records in terms of cap hits — remain intact.

As many expected he would, Jameis Winston outplayed the 2024 Watson version in Week 8. The free agent pickup completed 27 of 41 passes, including a game-winner to Cedric Tillman, for 334 yards and three touchdowns. The Browns prioritized Winston over Joe Flacco, who said repeatedly he wanted to stay in Cleveland — before ultimately confirming he received no offer to return — but demoted him to the third-string level in Week 7. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, however, did not hold the starting gig once Watson went down. After a promising Week 8 — albeit with a boost from some Ravens dropped interceptions — Winston appears the clear-cut Browns starter.

It is not especially surprising the upper reaches of the organization agreed to keep trotting out Watson, who was at the controls as the Browns lost five straight. The team had made a historic investment in the embattled passer, sending the Texans three first-round picks in a package that included other draft choices and greenlighting the five-year, $230MM guaranteed deal. The Browns joined the Falcons, Panthers and Saints in being willing to send three first-rounders to the Texans for Watson, but their $230MM guarantee set them apart. As Watson was on the cusp of choosing Atlanta, the Georgia native backtracked thanks to the whopping guarantee — a figure that has not been approached despite the QB market skyrocketing since.

The Watson contract, which Jimmy Haslam indicated stemmed from a Berry plan, unfolding as it has may well place the HC-GM combination on hot seats despite the Browns authorizing extensions for both this offseason. Stefanski has also given up play-calling duties for the first time in his Browns tenure, handing the role to OC Ken Dorsey. The team did not discuss changing play-callers until Week 8, Dorsey said (via The Athletic’s Zac Jackson).

Stefanski’s run as a play-caller stretched back to taking over for a fired John DeFilippo as interim Vikings OC in 2018. Becoming Minnesota’s full-time OC in 2019, Stefanski landed the Browns’ HC job in 2020, arriving two weeks before Berry.

Winston’s early success reflects well on the coach’s scheme, which keyed a playoff berth in 2020 with a healthy Baker Mayfield and obviously flourished with Flacco at the controls en route to a surprising postseason berth last season. Though, with the Browns 2-6 and rumored to be prepared to make more seller’s trades following the Amari Cooper swap, Stefanski may not be out of the woods yet regarding an ouster.

Watson underwent surgery last week. Stefanski did not commit to the high-priced passer as his 2025 starter, though the veteran HC said he still believed in Watson. Thanks to the QB’s two restructures, he is tied to $72.94MM cap numbers in 2025 and ’26. Cutting Watson in 2025 would create an unfathomable $172.73MM dead cap hit, which would be spread over two years in a post-June 1 transaction (which would certainly be necessary in the event of a release). It will now be interesting, given the money still owed to Watson, if the Browns add a starter-caliber arm in 2025.

Browns Sign Bailey Zappe Off Chiefs’ Practice Squad, Place Deshaun Watson On IR

October 22nd, 2024 at 1:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

1:17pm: The Browns made this move official. Zappe will take Watson’s roster spot, with the high-priced starter being moved to IR following his Week 7 Achilles tear. Watson will undergo surgery in the near future, though, it is not yet known if a full repair or an Aaron Rodgers-like speed-bridge procedure will take place.

8:42am: In need of a healthy depth option at quarterback, the Browns are making an addition. Cleveland is set to sign Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Deshaun Watson is out for the year with a torn Achilles, leaving the team with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at the quarterback position. Thompson-Robinson took over for Watson on Sunday, but he suffered a finger injury and was also forced to exit the contest. It remains to be seen when the 2023 fourth-rounder will next be available, so Zappe could find himself dressing as the backup as early as Week 8.

The 25-year-old began his career with the Patriots, making a pair of starts during his rookie campaign. The promise he showed during that spell proved to be rather short-lived, though, and he was briefly out of the organization ahead of last season. Zappe was brought back, and with Mac Jones struggling he finished off the year atop New England’s depth chart. Despite having eight starts to his name, Zappe again found himself on the outside looking in this past summer, as the Patriots waived him. They have moved forward with veteran Jacoby Brissett along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton under center.

The Chiefs acted quickly by signing Zappe to their practice squad. That move added depth behind Patrick Mahomes and new backup Carson Wentz, signed in free agency to take on QB2 duties. Both of those passers have remained healthy this season, leaving Zappe without a clear path to a place on the 53-man roster. He will now head to Cleveland in a bid to compete for a spot on the team’s roster even after Thompson-Robinson is healthy. Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and adding sparse production in the running game during his career.

Those figures are not particularly encouraging, but this move will give him a fresh start at the NFL level. The Western Kentucky product could earn a stay beyond 2024 with the Browns in the event he were to see playing time and deliver solid performances. If not, how Cleveland proceeds in the offseason will become even more uncertain with Watson not being assured of the starting gig once he is healthy.

For the time being, Winston will likely be in line to make his first start of the year as Thompson-Robinson continues to recover. The 1-6 Browns sit last in the NFL in total offense and 29th in scoring, and whichever quarterbacks are used moving forward will look to usher in improvement on that side of the ball (something which could be feasible with Nick Chubb now healthy). Cleveland will look to end Baltimore’s five-game winning streak in Week 8 with a notably different looking QB room.

Kevin Stefanski Declines To Name Deshaun Watson Browns’ 2025 Starter; Dorian Thompson-Robinson Could Miss Time

October 21st, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the remainder of the 2024 campaign, the Browns will not have Deshaun Watson available at quarterback. His Week 7 Achilles tear will require season-ending surgery and lead to further speculation about how Cleveland will proceed at the position.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted Watson will undergo surgery this week to begin his rehab process. On that point, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is expected to have Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson perform the procedure. She adds that while consideration was given to the ‘speed bridge’ option which offers a shorter recovery timeline, the traditional operation is likely in this case. With Watson not in consideration to heal before the end of the season, the latter path is a sensible one.

A full recovery is expected for Watson, whose three-year Browns tenure has seen him play only 19 games. In the wake of this year’s struggles, Stefanski repeatedly offered public endorsements of the three-time Pro Bowler as Cleveland’s starter, stating that keeping Watson atop the depth chart was a call on his part and not that of ownership. Today, Stefanski offered further positive reviews of the 29-year-old but did not confirm Watson will hold the QB1 title once he is healthy in 2025.

“Obviously I believe in Deshaun, but I also think it’s important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury and a bad break for him and we’re feeling bad for him,” Stefanski said. “[I] know that he’ll bounce back, but not getting into all those things down the road. I’m looking forward to him getting the surgery and obviously getting his body back.”

Two years and $92MM in fully-guaranteed compensation remains on Watson’s pact, one which has been restructured multiple times. The resultant cap charges will make it difficult to continue with Watson absent any further adjustments, but cutting or trading him is not feasible. Stefanski noted (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) the Browns will add a quarterback to fill the vacancy created by Watson’s injury, but it remains to be seen what role a new signal-caller will have to close out the season.

2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson and free agent addition Jameis Winston remain as Cleveland’s healthy quarterbacks. A change in the backup pecking order allowed for Thompson-Robinson to take over after Watson went down, although he suffered a finger injury which forced him to leave the contest as well. Testing on the 24-year-old’s injury will take place to determine if surgery is required; Stefanski noted Thompson-Robinson should be available at some point but his Week 8 status is in question (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal).

Winston might be needed during at least the short-term future as a result. The former Buccaneer and Saint has 80 starts to his name, and as a pending free agent he has plenty of incentive to deliver a strong showing and boost his market value. Of course, Winston could find himself competing for playing time with the Browns in 2025 depending on Watson’s health status and how the team views his grip on the starting gig once he is back in the fold.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson To Undergo Achilles Surgery

October 21st, 2024 at 10:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign due to his Achilles tear, Deshaun Watson‘s attention will soon turn to rehab. The Browns’ starting quarterback is set to undergo surgery in the near future.

Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is currently giving thought to the ‘speed bridge’ procedure as an alternative to the traditional Achilles repair. In recent years, the new technique has allowed for players to return to practice along a shorter timeline, as evidenced last season by Aaron Rodgers. The procedure (whichever form it ultimately takes) will begin Watson’s process of returning to full health with an eye on the 2025 campaign.

The 29-year-old’s Cleveland tenure has included a number of sub-par performances, but it has also been defined by missed time. Watson was sidelined for the first 11 games of the 2022 season through suspension, and a shoulder injury limited him to only six contests last year. The surgery which shut him down last season was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will likely handle Watson’s upcoming Achilles procedure. Either way, his campaign will be brought to an end after less than seven full games played.

When on the field, Watson has not managed to reclaim his previous form. The three-time Pro Bowler faced massive expectations given the package (including three first-round picks) Cleveland paid to acquire him from the Texans along with the fully-guaranteed contract which convinced him to join the Browns. Another two years remain on that $230MM pact, with $92MM still owed. The team’s consecutive offseason restructures has Watson on track for record-breaking cap hits ($72.94MM) in 2025 and ’26, and any kind of extension to flatten those figures would be difficult to justify given his growing list of injuries and subpar play. For that reason, a trade to get out of the contract would of course be unfeasible.

Cleveland is set to receive a small cap credit next year based on the $13.9MM portion of Watson’s 2024 compensation which is insured (h/t CBS Sports’ Joel Corry). Still, that will offer little reprieve in terms of the issue presented by the pact and Watson’s inability to meet expectations so far. While some of the contract is still insured for next year, Corry notes that is not the case for 2026. Team and player thus have plenty of incentive to avoid any further lengthy absences.

While Watson weighs his options, the Browns will move forward with Dorian Thompson-Robinson (provided he does not require a lengthy stint on the sidelines from the finger injury he suffered yesterday) and Jameis Winston under center. The pecking order between the two switched ahead of Week 7, and it will be interesting to see how it shakes out over the remainder of the season.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Tears Achilles

October 21st, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 21: An MRI confirmed on Monday Watson has, in fact, torn his Achilles (h/t Rapoport). His season is over, and attention will turn toward his Week 1 availability for the 2025 campaign.

OCTOBER 20, 10:00pm: 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.

Browns Promote Dorian Thompson-Robinson To QB2, Demote Jameis Winston

October 20th, 2024 at 12:22pm CST by Rory Parks

There is interesting quarterback news to report in Cleveland today, though it is likely not the news Browns fans were hoping to receive. While struggling QB1 Deshaun Watson is still operating as the starter, the Browns have demoted Jameis Winston to the emergency third-string passer for today’s game against the Bengals. Second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson will serve as Watson’s backup.

Cleveland signed both Winston and Tyler Huntley this offseason, eschewing the chance to re-sign Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco after Flacco’s surprising success down the stretch of the 2023 season. That decision has been heavily scrutinized in light of Flacco’s strong play with the Colts in relief of Anthony Richardson in 2024 and Watson’s continued struggles (Huntley was released as part of final cutdowns in August).

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns considered Thompson-Robinson and Watson as untouchable in trades this offseason, though the club would have been willing to deal Winston then and would still be willing to move him prior to the November 5 deadline, especially now that he has been demoted. Cabot says that if Watson is ultimately stripped of his starting duties – a move that HC Kevin Stefanski has thus far resisted while insisting that ownership has not ordered him to keep Watson in the lineup – Thompson-Robinson, not Winston, would be the player to replace him.

Cleveland is said to be quite high on DTR, a fifth-round selection in 2023 who enjoyed an impressive preseason this summer. Prior to Flacco’s run as a starter last season, Thompson-Robinson started three games as a rookie and generally performed like a raw Day 3 pick in his first professional campaign: he posted a 1-2 record and completed 60 of 112 passes (53.6%) for 440 yards and one touchdown against four interceptions.

Still, the Browns are bullish on his upside, and should Stefanski decide to pull the plug on Watson, the club will want to know what it has in DTR so it can plan accordingly for the future. Cabot notes that the team has wanted to see what Watson could do with a healthy O-Line, a healthy David Njoku, and a healthy Nick Chubb, With today’s game against Cincinnati marking Chubb’s first action since a brutal knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, Watson is as well-equipped as he can be at this point (the team’s recent trade of Amari Cooper aside).

As such, Cabot says the club will be monitoring Watson’s performance closely. If he does not exhibit noticeable improvement in short order, Cabot believes the 1-5 outfit will hand the reins to Thompson-Robinson.

Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com is a bit more skeptical, as he suggests that Watson – despite ranking 28th in the league with a 76.6 quarterback rating – still has something of a long leash. Grossi confirms, however, that Winston is not hurt, thereby confirming that the DTR promotion is merit-based.

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