NFL Trade Rumors: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Suffers Major Achilles Injury

The Cleveland Browns' long, ugly saga with quarterback Deshaun Watson continues. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the three-time Pro Bowler suffered a ruptured Achilles during yesterday's 14-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

An MRI revealed that Browns QB Deshaun Watson’s Achilles is in fact ruptured, as suspected, and his 2024 season is over.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2024

Watson went down after planting his leg on a non-contact play early Sunday afternoon. He ended his day completing 15 of his 17 passes for 128 yards with two sacks. Through seven weeks, he led the Browns to a 1-6 record and NFL-worst marks in yards per game (296.2) and third down conversion rate (23.7%).

Watson's injury means he'll play seven or fewer games for the third straight season. The Browns won't miss him much: He has netted an abysmal 4.76 yards per dropback and 157 passing yards per game over his 19 appearances since 2022. If not for the massive investment the Browns made to trade for him (multiple first-round picks and an unprecedented five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract), he likely could have been benched long ago.

The Browns played Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at quarterback on Sunday in Watson's absence, and neither should prove a significant downgrade. The Browns could sniff around for an alternative in free agency or via trade, but Watson's contract will make him difficult to replace, even beyond this season. He still has $92 million in fully guaranteed salary remaining in 2025 and 2026, making rostering another credible veteran extremely difficult.

Ultimately, the Browns need to recognize two key facts: their 2024 season is lost, and Watson is a sunk cost. Finding a young (and cheap) quarterback for the 2025 season is their only course of action, and that will be easier with a high draft pick. The Denver Broncos recently blazed a trail the Browns should follow: They released quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason, absorbed an outrageous $85 million in dead money, and then drafted Oregon quarterback Bo Nix 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.