Time to call it a career
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson underwent surgery on Thursday after tearing his Achilles for the second time since October, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Earlier this week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters that Watson had suffered a setback in his rehab from his first Achilles injury suffered in Week 7, but that it was too early to determine the severity.
According to Berry, Watson told doctors during his exit physical something did not feel right.
Now with a second surgery, Watson's status for the 2025 NFL season is in question, though doctors say recovery time is expected to be at least seven months. This news now could lock in the Browns to go quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, right after the Tennessee Titans, who are also in the market for a new signal caller.
In December, Watson and the Browns agreed to a contract restructure that will not affect the $92 million in fully guaranteed money Watson is owed for the 2025 and 2026 NFL seasons, nor the $72.9 million salary-cap hit he'll have for each season, but it will allow Cleveland to spread his dead money over multiple seasons if he stays with the team through 2026.
The alternative was a sizable cap hit in 2027, when Watson will no longer be under contract with the team.
Watson has yet to play more than seven games in a season since joining the Browns — having played 19 in total after signing a five-year, $230 million contract in 2022 — and finished his second straight season on the injured list.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson underwent surgery on Thursday after tearing his Achilles for the second time since October, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Earlier this week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters that Watson had suffered a setback in his rehab from his first Achilles injury suffered in Week 7, but that it was too early to determine the severity.
According to Berry, Watson told doctors during his exit physical something did not feel right.
Now with a second surgery, Watson's status for the 2025 NFL season is in question, though doctors say recovery time is expected to be at least seven months. This news now could lock in the Browns to go quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, right after the Tennessee Titans, who are also in the market for a new signal caller.
In December, Watson and the Browns agreed to a contract restructure that will not affect the $92 million in fully guaranteed money Watson is owed for the 2025 and 2026 NFL seasons, nor the $72.9 million salary-cap hit he'll have for each season, but it will allow Cleveland to spread his dead money over multiple seasons if he stays with the team through 2026.
The alternative was a sizable cap hit in 2027, when Watson will no longer be under contract with the team.
Watson has yet to play more than seven games in a season since joining the Browns — having played 19 in total after signing a five-year, $230 million contract in 2022 — and finished his second straight season on the injured list.
