During the battle of Ohio matchup vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson came down with a non-contact achilles injury.
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Awful: #Browns fans were cheering when Deshaun Watson went down with what looks to be a season-ending Achilles injury.
Be. Better.pic.twitter.com/4Hp1lLBO0M
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 20, 2024
As Watson laid on the field with over one minute left in the first half, some fans in the home crowd were heard cheering and chanting, "You deserve it."
Listen to that crowd as Deshaun Watson’s season comes to an end pic.twitter.com/PpPsMzPSl2
— NFL Memes (@NFLHateMemes) October 20, 2024
Then as he was being carted off the field, the Browns QB appeared to be crying, yet the Cleveland fans had no sympathy.
Deshaun Watson crying while being carted off with a non-contact leg injurypic.twitter.com/qBscv2L1gO
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) October 20, 2024
To point out, they even booed Watson before the game started.
WOW: #BROWNS FANS HEAVILY BOOED QB DESHAUN WATSON AS HE WAS INTRODUCED AND RAN ONTO THE FIELD.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 20, 2024
Following the game, backup quarterback Jameis Winston (5-for-11, 67 yards, TD) spoke on fans disrespecting Watson.
Powerful: Jameis Winston on Deshaun Watson.
A must-watch and listen.pic.twitter.com/dq55trgo1v
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 20, 2024
"The way I was raised, I was taught to love. No matter the circumstances," Winston said (via Cleveland 19 News). "Especially for people who do right by you. I am very upset to the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years. And he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day."
Winston continued, "Regardless of your perception. Regardless of what you thought should have happened with him, he committed every single day that I've been here to be the best that he can be for this team... The way I was raised, I would never pull a man when he's down. But I will be the person to lift him up."
The Browns' defensive leader Myles Garrett also stood up for Watson, while calling out fans.
The five-time Pro Bowler said in the postgame press conference, that Watson has been a "model citizen," and "We don't have any moral high ground to look down on the guy."
#Browns Myles Garrett calls out fans for booing Deshaun Watson while he was down on the field: pic.twitter.com/GyT8UKdNh6
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 20, 2024
Notably, while playing for the Houston Texans Watson was accused of sexual harassment, as he allegedly made inappropriate advances during therapeutic massages. To emphasize, 22 women came forward to testify against Watson, but he was ultimately not criminally charged as he settled the lawsuits.
Nevertheless, this didn't stop Cleveland from paying him a five-year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract upon being traded from the Texans in March of 2022.
That is to say, after the NFL suspended him the first 11 games of the 2022 season, Watson has only appeared in 19 games. And in view of his performance on the field since taking over as the starting quarterback in Cleveland, it has been underwhelming to say the least.
To note, Watson has put up a 9-10 record, while throwing for 3,365 yards (61.2% completion rate), to go along with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images
With this in mind, the Browns fans have seemingly had enough, yet no matter what no one should cheer when a player suffers a serious injury, especially when one has to be carted off the field.
"The thing that really hurts the most is seeing the fans boo him (Deshaun) as the cart came out."#Browns Dawand Jones on Deshaun Watson's injury. pic.twitter.com/PaG00bMpiM
— Leah Doherty (@LeahDohertyTV) October 20, 2024
Related: Browns Fans React After Struggling Deshaun Watson Suffers Gruesome Injury Vs Bengals
