It's been nothing but one football disaster after another for the Cleveland Browns after acquiring Deshaun Watson.
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As multiple outlets have reported, Watson underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn Achilles tendon — for the second time in just over two months. The 29-year-old quarterback had initially torn his Achilles back on Oct. 20, and now, after suffering a re-rupture following an ankle roll during a recent trip to Miami, his NFL future is majorly in doubt.
His future in Cleveland was already in doubt, though the Browns will have to keep on (over)paying him.
Watson's recovery timeline is still uncertain, but sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter that Watsonb is expected to miss at least seven months. The Browns confirmed the surgery with Dr. Robert Anderson, and while the team didn't give an exact return date, it's all but certain Watson will miss the entire 2025 season.
He wasn't even that good when relatively healthy, with the trade looking like perhaps the biggest bust in NFL history.
Either way, this injury marks the latest chapter in a tumultuous period for Watson, whose 2024 season was already cut short by shoulder surgery. He has now been sidelined for back-to-back years, with 2023's injury leading to him missing the final eight games of the season. The Browns were hoping for a bounce-back year in 2025, but this latest setback has dashed those hopes.
Despite Watson's situation, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said this week that the team's offseason quarterback plans would not be dramatically impacted. The Browns already have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and that selection could very well be used on one of the top quarterback prospects. In addition to Watson, the only other quarterback under contract for 2025 is Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who had an up-and-down start to his rookie campaign.
Veteran quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe, who saw action after Watson's initial injury, are both set to hit free agency. Winston, who started seven games before being benched, is an unrestricted free agent, while Zappe, who started the season finale, is a restricted free agent.
