In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Cleveland Browns have been dealt a devastating blow as quarterback Deshaun Watson’s season comes to an abrupt end. Watson’s hopes for a successful year were dashed when he suffered a non-contact Achilles injury late in the second quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The severity of the injury was confirmed by an MRI on Monday, which revealed a tear, putting an end to Watson’s 2024 season.
CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirmed the news, leaving Browns fans and teammates in shock. The team had feared the worst and unfortunately, those fears were realized. Coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the media after the game, expressing his concerns about Watson’s condition. “Let’s get the tests first, but that’s what it looks like,” Stefanski said, acknowledging the grim reality of the situation.
In Watson’s absence, backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback, only to suffer a finger injury himself. This forced emergency quarterback Jameis Winston into action during the closing moments of the game, further adding to the Browns’ woes in a 21-14 loss to the Bengals. The loss drops the Browns to a dismal 1-6 record for the season, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the team and Watson’s future with the organization.
Watson’s turbulent journey with the Browns has been riddled with setbacks and obstacles. After missing the entirety of the 2021 season due to a contract dispute with the Texans, he faced a suspension for the first 11 games of the 2022 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following allegations of sexual misconduct. Injuries limited his playing time in 2022 and 2023, and now a season-ending injury has cut short his 2024 campaign after just six full games.
Prior to his injury, Watson had accumulated 1,020 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions in the 2024 season. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Browns as they navigate the remainder of the year without their star quarterback. The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but if successful, there remains hope for Watson’s return for Week 1 of the 2025 season. Only time will tell what the future holds for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns.
