Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, it was confirmed Monday morning.
The under-fire NFL star went down with a non-contact injury with just over a minute left in the second quarter of the Browns’ 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The signal caller underwent an MRI scan on Monday, which revealed that Watson had ruptured his Achilles tendon, according to Adam Schefter.
The injury – the same one Aaron Rodgers suffered in his debut with the New York Jets last season – will sideline Watson for the rest of the season.
If Watson undergoes successful surgery, it is believed he could be healthy to return for Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the season
Watson was visibly emotional as he was carted off during Sunday’s game against the Bengals
Shocking replays of Sunday’s game appeared to pop the signal caller’s right calf muscle, raising fears of an Achilles tendon tear, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed after the game.
Watson was visibly emotional as he was carted off the field on Sunday and was on the verge of tears as he tried to cover his face with a towel on the back of the cart.
Monday’s scan confirmed the suspicions are bringing the curtain down on a miserable 2024 season for the quarterback.
The injury is yet another blow to Watson, who has struggled during a miserable 1-5 start to the season for the Browns.
Watson, who is in his fourth year with the Browns after signing a fully guaranteed $240 million contract, endured merciless cheering from his own fan base during his game introduction.
The audible bickering came a week after Watson managed to complete just 16 of his 23 passing attempts for 168 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in a 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Watson’s abysmal performance — including a defiant walk-off during the Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders — led to calls for the signal caller to be banished to the bench.
However, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski insisted he stick with Watson as his starting quarterback over Jameis Winston.
The quarterback went onto the field with just over a minute left in the second quarter
An MRI scan on Monday morning confirmed that the signal caller had ruptured his Achilles tendon
But on Sunday, the coach had no choice but to resort to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the team’s third quarterback, following Watson’s departure after Winston was declared inactive earlier in the day.
It is currently unclear whether Winston or Thompson-Robinson will be given Stefanski’s starting role for the remainder of the season.
Watson was traded to the Browns in 2022 for six draft picks, including three first rounders, despite being sued by more than two dozen female massage therapists for sexual harassment and assault the year before.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam handed Watson the blockbuster contract in 2022.
Watson has been embroiled in several lawsuits over the past three seasons, previously reaching confidential settlements with 20 women over sexual misconduct lawsuits that saw him suspended for 11 NFL games in the 2022 season.
Last month it was revealed that he has been sued for over a million dollars by a new woman, who has accused him of sexually assaulting her in Texas four years ago. Watson ‘strongly’ denies the allegations.
Meanwhile, bizarre scenes unfolded on the field during Week 5, when Watson defiantly walked off mid-match.
Stefanski was left in disbelief at his own quarterback as Watson left the huddle and headed to the sideline during the third quarter.
Trailing by 21 on 4th and goal, the head coach made the call to keep the offense on the field in a desperate attempt for Cleveland to claw its way back into the game.
Moments later, however, Watson was off the field and the Browns had resorted to a field goal.
Watson appeared on the verge of tears as he tried to cover his face with a towel
Watson appeared to challenge his coach, who took off his headphones in frustration before covering his mouth and speaking to his quarterback.
Many NFL fans on social media accused the 29-year-old of effectively quitting his team.
Later, Stefanski explained that it was a blunder by the Browns that led to Watson leaving the field.
“We had the wrong number of people in the group, and at that point we just wanted to kick the field goal,” he said.