Deshaun Watson will not end the season as Cleveland’s beginning quarterback for the second straight 12 months. He is injured once more, and the Browns have new issues.
Watson ruptured his right Achilles tendon within the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati, collapsing as he started to run and main some Browns followers to cheer whereas the divisive QB laid on the bottom writhing in ache.
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The group feared Watson’s 12 months was over and an MRI on Monday confirmed the rupture. The Browns mentioned Watson can have surgical procedure this week and miss the remainder of the season however “a full restoration is anticipated.”
Watson’s damage is a blow to the Browns (1-6), who’ve misplaced 5 straight after making the playoffs final 12 months.
The short-term implications are that both Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jameis Winston will take over because the starter.
However Thompson-Robinson injured a finger on his throwing hand after changing Watson on Sunday, and coach Kevin Stefanski was ready to seek out out if the second-year QB can play this week in opposition to Baltimore. Stefanski additionally mentioned the group will signal one other quarterback.
In the long run, Watson’s damage, together with the truth that he wasn’t enjoying near what the Browns anticipated once they signed him to a $230 million contract two years in the past, may result in them taking a quarterback excessive in subsequent 12 months’s draft.
Stefanski, who caught with Watson this season regardless of his struggles, was requested if he’ll come again as Cleveland’s starter.
“Clearly I consider in Deshaun,” he mentioned on a Zoom name. “However I additionally suppose it is essential simply to acknowledge that he simply had a foul damage and dangerous break for him. We’re feeling dangerous for him and know that he’ll bounce again however not stepping into all these issues down the highway.”
Watson was injured on a noncontact play within the second quarter of Cleveland’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals and was carted off the sphere in tears.
It is the second vital damage in two seasons for Watson, who broke a bone in his throwing shoulder final 12 months. Watson additionally had surgical procedures on each knees after tearing ligaments whereas at Clemson and enjoying for Houston.
The 29-year-old acquired booed throughout pregame introductions. As he took off on a draw play, his leg buckled and he crumpled to the turf.
He instantly put his arms on his helmet, clearly conscious of the severity of an damage just like the one Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained final 12 months. Rodgers underwent a “pace bridge” surgical procedure to hurry up his restoration and allow him to apply inside three months.
Stefanski didn’t know what sort of process Watson can have. A typical restoration time after an Achilles tendon restore is six to 9 months. Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins acquired damage in October final 12 months and was again for coaching camp in July.
Watson’s damage triggered an unpleasant response from some followers.
As he was being assisted by the group’s medical workers and Thompson-Robinson start warming up, there was some derisive cheers and boos from the stands.
Cleveland followers have been sad about Watson, who has been accused of being sexually inappropriate with girls.
The response did not sit effectively with a number of Watson’s teammates, together with star finish Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months, who was appalled by the followers’ conduct.
“We needs to be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as followers to boo anybody and their downfall,” Garrett mentioned.
Winston additionally admonished the uncomfortable celebration.
“I’m very upset with the response to a person that has had the world in opposition to him for the previous 4 years, and he put his physique and life on the road for this metropolis each single day,” he mentioned. “The way in which I used to be raised, I’ll by no means pull on a person when he is down, however I would be the individual to carry him up.”
On Monday, Professional Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, who’s from Cleveland, mentioned the misplaced ardour was disappointing.
“Everybody must be higher than that,” he mentioned. “No matter what it’s possible you’ll consider an individual or what somebody’s been by means of or regardless of the state of affairs could also be, that does not make it proper or make it any higher so that you can kick a person when he is down.”
The damage is yet one more twist in Watson’s tumultuous time with the Browns.
Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks and 5 total to the Texans two years in the past to get him, with homeowners Dee and Jimmy Haslam approving the group giving Watson a completely assured contract.
With a strong roster, the Browns had been determined to discover a QB who may assist them compete in opposition to the highest AFC groups.
The Browns had moved on from Baker Mayfield regardless of drafting him No. 1 total in 2018 and making the playoffs two seasons later.
However Watson has not performed as much as expectations, and Cleveland’s transfer to get him has been labeled an abject failure with the group nonetheless on the hook to pay him $46 million in every of the following two seasons.
Watson completed his third season passing for 1,148 yards with 5 touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked a league-high 33 instances.
His arrival in Cleveland additionally got here amid accusations by greater than two dozen girls of sexual assault and harassment throughout therapeutic massage remedy classes in Texas. Two grand juries declined to indict him and he has settled civil lawsuits in all however one of many instances.
Watson was suspended by the NFL for his first 11 video games and fined $5 million for violating the league’s private conduct coverage earlier than he took his first snap with the Browns. The lengthy layoff – he sat out the 2021 season in a contract dispute – led to subpar play, and Watson made simply six begins final season earlier than hurting his shoulder.
Cleveland signed veteran Joe Flacco, who went 4-1 as a starter and led the Browns to the playoffs.
Earlier than Watson acquired damage this 12 months, he did not play a lot better and was one of many league’s lowest-rated passers for a Cleveland group that hasn’t scored 20 factors in a sport and will have to look anew for a franchise QB.
