Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had surgical procedure after rupturing his achilles tendon for the second time in three months and will miss the complete 2025 season.
The crew stated Watson, who has performed in simply 19 video games in three seasons with Cleveland resulting from an NFL suspension and accidents, felt discomfort in his ankle after “rolling” it whereas in Miami. He solely revealed the damage throughout a player-exit assembly on Sunday.
Checks confirmed he re-ruptured the tendon, requiring one other operation.
Watson is anticipated to overlook “vital time” in 2025, the Browns stated Friday in a press release. The damage additional clouds his future with the Browns, who nonetheless owe him $92m after signing him to a completely assured $230m contract in 2022.
Earlier this week, normal supervisor Andrew Berry stated Watson had a setback and the crew was gathering extra info.
The 29-year-old Watson was initially injured on 20 October in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Watson had surgical procedure 5 days later, and he had been away from the crew rehabbing his damage when he acquired harm once more.
The Browns have insurance coverage that protects Watson’s contract. If he’s out for the season, they will recoup some cash and get some salary-cap reduction. The perimeters reworked Watson’s contract in December, including void years on the finish to offer the Browns extra monetary flexibility.
Even earlier than Watson’s second surgical procedure, his tenure in Cleveland was unsure – at finest. The Browns’ huge funding in him – the historic contract and buying and selling three first-round picks to Houston – hasn’t labored out.
Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder damage in 2023. He recovered in time to start out this previous season, however performed poorly in his seven begins. He didn’t throw for 200 yards and was one of many league’s lowest-ranked passers earlier than rupturing his achilles on a draw play in opposition to the Bengals.
Jameis Winston and second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson performed in a number of video games earlier than the Browns began Bailey Zappe in final week’s season finale at Baltimore. Zappe was the fortieth quarterback to start out for the Browns since 1999.
Cleveland completed 3-14 and may have the No 2 general choose on this 12 months’s draft. They’ll possible take a quarterback with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward among the many high candidates. The Browns are additionally anticipated to amass a veteran QB both by free company or a commerce.
“I feel the fact of it’s that room will look totally different subsequent 12 months,” Berry stated at his wrap-up information convention on Monday.
