Browns QB Deshaun Watson hurts Achilles, reportedly out for season

Field Level Media|published: Sun 20th October, 15:27 2024

Oct 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles injury on a non-contact play during Sunday's game, the team announced, and will reportedly miss the rest of the season.

Former longtime NFL team doctor David J. Chao posted on X that Watson would need season-ending surgery after he suffered a right Achilles tendon rupture, calling the injury a "telltale calf reverberation."

On a running play late in the second quarter against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, Watson's right knee buckled, causing the three-time Pro Bowl selection to fall to the ground in obvious pain. Once he was loaded into the back of the cart, Watson, with a towel over his head, was visibly emotional as he was brought back to the locker room.

Before the injury, Watson was 15-of-17 passing for 128 yards against the Bengals. Watson, 29, entered Sunday with 1,020 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions through six games (all starts) this season.

In his third season with Cleveland after four seasons with Houston, Watson entered Sunday's start having thrown for 17,776 yards, 123 touchdowns and 48 interceptions in 72 games (71 starts) since entering the league in 2017 as the Texans' first-round pick (No. 12 overall).

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round pick by Cleveland, took over Watson in his first appearance in 2024. Thompson-Robinson, 24, played in eight games (three starts) last year, completing just 60 of 112 passes for 440 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

Jameis Winston is the Browns' emergency quarterback and would only play if Thompson-Robinson was ruled out of Sunday's game with an injury.

--Field Level Media