Deshaun Watson’s Season Is Over After a Ruptured Achilles

Bad News Browns

After winning only one of their six NFL games, Cleveland’s season looked bleak entering their Week 7 showdown against their divisional rivals from Cincinnati. However, things turned from bad to worse after quarterback Deshaun Watson made NFL news when he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the first half of the Browns’ 21-14 loss to the Bengals.

🚨BREAKING: Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles, per @RapSheet #DawgPound | #NFL pic.twitter.com/5YCSGpOkPc

— BetUS Pro Football (@BetUSProFB) October 21, 2024

It was a non-contact injury as Watson planted his left leg to pass before crumbling to the turf. Watson had to be carted off the field with a towel covering his face as Dorian Thompson-Robinson took the reins of the offense.

After Watson collapsed to the turf, the crowd rained down a chorus of boos before the severity of the issue became apparent. That did not sit well with several of his teammates, including defensive star Myles Garrett, who said the following in a postgame presser:

“Whether it’s an opponent that goes down or one of our own, we don’t boo,” Garrett said. “We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall — could be a season-altering, career-altering injury.

“The man is not perfect. He doesn’t need to be. None of us are expected to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does off the field or on the field because I can’t throw stones from my glass house. But we need to do better.”

Deshaun Watson went down with a season ending leg injury and Cleveland Browns fans chanted “You Deserve This”

Wow. pic.twitter.com/BgOvu11SAq

— Wunderfan (@wunderfan) October 21, 2024

What’s Next for Watson?

NFL rumors are swirling as to Watson’s future in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson’s stats this season are not those one would expect of someone who was handed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. After competing in only a dozen games over his first two seasons in Cleveland, he has played in all seven contests in 2024, but he is now done for the year.

.@TonyGrossi says that the Browns offense needs an entire housecleaning…

Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/mIAoZtWF0t

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) October 21, 2024

Watson was traded to Cleveland after making three Pro Bowls as Houston’s starting quarterback. However, allegations hovered over the 2020 NFL passing leader before settling 20 claims of sexual harassment and assault, which precipitated the trade and ultimate eight-game suspension in his first season with the Browns.

Watson has been underwhelming in his three abbreviated seasons with the Browns, and with two years remaining on his contract, Cleveland could decide to cut ties altogether. We have seen it before with high-priced quarterbacks, as Russell Wilson was released from the Broncos after inking a similar five-year, $245 million pact, of which he spent only two seasons in Denver before his release.

Wilson is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and collecting only a small fraction of his salary from his new club.