Deshaun Watson (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Ever since the Cleveland Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and signed him to a fully guaranteed deal, everything has gone wrong.
Watson’s future as Cleveland’s quarterback is more uncertain.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said last week that Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture, and the team doesn’t know if or when he’ll be available in 2025.
Deshaun Watson has played in only 19 games since signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with Cleveland in 2022.
Now, it seems that Watson has also lost the locker room.
A new piece from Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reveals that in the weeks that followed Watson tearing his Achilles, his teammates felt a sense of relief that came with his absence from the team from inside the locker room.
“Players told me there was a constant heaviness surrounding Watson in the locker room and that they felt a different energy in the building upon his departure after his Achilles injury in October,” wrote Lloyd. “A couple of veterans told me it felt like a cloud had been lifted.”
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Following his injury, the team inserted Jameis Winston, and they went on to beat the Baltimore Ravens to earn their second win of the season one week later.
Another part of Lloyd’s article explained why Deshaun Watson and head coach Kevin Stefanski never seemed to mesh well together as a quarterback and playcaller.
The article explained how Watson was on board with his coach’s plan, but soon, he began to push back and wanted to run an offense that more closely resembled what he did with the Houston Texans.
His days with the Texans had Watson looking like one of the best quarterbacks in the entire league.
The article added that his teammates “grew tired” of the organization’s treatment of him because he never fit in.
Multiple players also became frustrated that the head coach wouldn’t openly criticize Watson in front of the team. Once Jameis Winston took over, Stefanski would point out the QB’s mistakes in film sessions.
Is Deshaun Watson’s Era Over In Cleveland?
Whatever is next for Watson, and it’s hard to see him playing another game in Cleveland.
The Deshaun Watson era ends as horribly as it started.
The Cleveland Browns announced that Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles and was forced to have a second surgery.
2025 might be a wash, and the team could likely part ways with him by 2026.
VIDEO: Footage Surfaces Exposing Deshaun Watson For Clearly Not Taking His Rehab Seriously Before Re-Tearing His Achilles Just 2 Months After Surgery
Deshaun Watson (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has had a major setback to his previously injured Achilles.
The team announced on Friday that Watson “complained of discomfort after rolling his ankle in Miami” and that a subsequent MRI showed he ruptured his Achilles for a second time.
That is almost inexcusable if he was doing everything he was supposed to be doing.
Watson had surgery on Oct. 25 to repair a ruptured Achilles suffered just days earlier as he played against the Cincinnati Bengals.
62 days after his surgery, Deshaun Watson was spotted seemingly on vacation with his girlfriend as they recorded a TikTok video.
“”……re-tear rate is really low and traditionally they are put in a walking boot for 3 months….it would be very hard to roll your ankle if you’re in a walking boot,” one account wrote on social media.
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It continued: “This video was taken 62 days after his surgery. NO CHANCE Deshaun Watson took his rehab seriously.”
A second post added: “Watson’s decision to post a video of himself dancing on vacation without his walking boot inside of 3 months of surgery is about to lose him $172 million 😂.”
Deshaun Watson’s playing status for next season was already up in the air, but now, with a second tear, he might not even tough the field in 2025.
This setback all but ensures the Browns will explore various avenues to get a quarterback that can change them around in 2025.
They own the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Browns Can Collect Insurance Money if Deshaun Watson Misses Etire 2025 Season
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has undergone another surgery after rupturing his right Achilles for a second time.
It’s his second surgery on the Achilles in less than three months.
This was Watson’s third season with the Browns, and he has yet to play a full season for Cleveland.
The good news for the Browns, if there is any, is that they had Watson’s contract insured in case the quarterback had to miss significant time due to injury or suspension.
The Browns have $44.3 million of Watson’s $46 million base salary covered by insurance.
