NFL

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Tears Achilles for Second Time in Three Months

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By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published10 Jan 2025

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Browns QB Deshaun Watson Tears Achilles for Second Time in Three Months

Browns QB Deshaun Watson has experienced another significant setback on his road to recovering from a torn Achilles in October. 

The Cleveland Browns are facing uncertainty once again at quarterback. Deshaun Watson underwent surgery on Thursday after tearing his Achilles for the second time since October, the team confirmed on Friday. The injury casts significant doubt on Watson’s availability for the 2025 NFL season, with doctors estimating at least a seven-month recovery timeline.

“Yesterday, Deshaun Watson underwent a second surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon rupture. Watson initially tore the tendon during the Browns’ Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 20. His first surgery was performed on Oct. 25. Earlier this week, when Watson reported to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for his exit physical as part of the Browns’ season-ending process, he complained of discomfort after rolling his ankle in Miami. MRI results demonstrated a re-rupture to his Achilles tendon. Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, NC, performed both surgeries. Watson’s recovery time and return to play status is uncertain, and he will likely miss significant time during the 2025 season.”

The news comes at a pivotal moment for the Browns, who now appear increasingly likely to target a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The Tennessee Titans, holding the top pick, are also expected to seek a franchise signal-caller, setting the stage for a high-stakes draft night.

Deshaun Watson is Fresh Off a New Contract

In December, Deshaun Watson and the Browns agreed to restructure his contract, a move that doesn’t alter the $92 million in fully guaranteed money he’s owed for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. However, it does allow Cleveland to spread his substantial dead money—$72.9 million cap hits each year—over multiple seasons, should Watson remain with the team through 2026.

For the Browns, the situation is both a setback and a turning point. Watson’s recovery is uncertain, and the franchise must weigh his future against the opportunity to secure its next quarterback of the future. The decisions ahead will define the team’s trajectory for years to come.

The alternative was a financial ripple the Browns couldn’t afford to endure—a significant cap hit in 2027, a year when Deshaun Watson’s contract would already be a chapter in the past.

Since his arrival in Cleveland, Watson has yet to take the field for more than seven games in a single season. The promise of a fresh start, the hope tied to a five-year, $230 million contract inked in 2022, has been eclipsed by a stark reality: 19 games played, two seasons, and two endings marred by injury.

Now, as Deshaun Watson faces his second Achilles surgery in just months, the Browns are left to reckon with what might have been—and what comes next. For a team, and a city, built on resilience, the questions loom larger than ever.