After weeks of discourse surrounding whether or not the Cleveland Browns should bench Deshaun Watson, the decision was likely made for them during a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Late in the first half, with the Browns offense facing a second-and-six just outside the red zone, Watson took the snap on a designed QB draw, planted his right foot to take off and quickly crumbled to the turf. He spent the next few minutes with his head in his hands as trainers rushed to his side.
The replay showed suggested the worst, as Watson’s calf muscle buckled underneath him due to an apparent Achilles tear. By the time he was confirmed out with an Achilles injury early in the third quarter everyone already assumed the worst.
Watson will undergo an MRI on Monday, but it’s likely to confirm that Watson’s 2024 campaign is over. If so, it will mark the second consecutive year that the Browns star QB has been unable to finish the season due to injury.
Before his departure the Browns offense was showing some signs of life. Watson was in the midst of what ultimately ended as a 12-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. Capped off with a long-overdue one-yard Nick Chubb touchdown run. Upon his exit from the game, Watson had completed 15-of-17 passes for 128 yards and had sprinkled in a couple vintage Deshaun Watson plays from his days with the Houston Texans.
The overtures to replace Watson had grown too loud to ignore in recent weeks. But nobody expected or wanted it to go down the way it did on Sunday.
Now the Browns decision was likely made for them and at 1-6 on the season bigger questions await. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was promoted to Watson’s primary backup prior to kickoff. In taking over for the 28-year-old he finished off that scoring drive – Cleveland’s only one of the game. He finished 11-for-24, with 82 yards passing, two interceptions and a team-high 44 yards rushing.
Does the rest of 2024 become about figuring out what the team has in the young fifth-round pick? Does a veteran backup like Jameis Winston become a trade chip by the Nov. 5 deadline? After the team traded Amari Cooper this week, another loss could open up the flood gates for Cleveland in regards to the trade market.
On a day that was supposed to feel celebratory given Chubb’s long-awaited return to the field after a year rehabbing from a serious knee injury, it suddenly became about the realization that many organization altering questions await the Browns in the weeks and months ahead.
Deshaun Watson Exits Week 7 On Cart
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was taken off the field on the medical cart following an apparent Achilles injury against the Cincinnati Bengals. Watson appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to his right leg as he planted his foot in an effort to run on a a second-and-six play late in the second quarter.
The replay of the injury paints a pretty bleak picture for the quarterback’s status for the remainder of the 2024 season.
DESHAUN WATSON IS DOWN. pic.twitter.com/pUnC1RIMbl
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) October 20, 2024
Watson stayed down on thee field after the play with his head in his hands as Browns trainers attended to him. After several minutes the medical cart came to retrieve the Browns signal caller and take him to the locker room. He was later officially ruled out for the remainder of the game early on in the third quarter. Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at quarterback as the teams only other active QB on Sunday.
Prior to leaving the game, Watson was off to a solid start for the Browns through the majority of the first half. He left the game having completed 15-of-17 passes for 128 yards and was well on pace to throw for over 200 yards for the first time this season.
If Watson did in fact suffer a season-ending Achilles injury, it would mark the second consecutive season in which he had his season cut short due to injury. In 2023 Watson wound up on the IR after Week 10 due to a fractured glenoid in his throwing shoulder.
After having surgery on the ailment late last year, Watson spent the next nine months rehabbing to get back on the field in time for this season. Through six and a half games, Watson has amassed 1,148 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
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