NFL Trade Rumors: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Reinjures Achilles, 2025 Season in Doubt

The Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland may have hit a new nadir. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Browns quarterback recently ruptured his Achilles for the second time in a matter of months and will undergo surgery to repair it next week.

Sources: #Browns QB Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles again, further testing showed, and he had another surgery on Thursday to repair it.

Less than 3 months after the original tear, it happened again. Watson faces a longer road back, and now he could miss all of 2025. pic.twitter.com/DAppF7ykjp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2025

Watson's first Achilles tear occurred in October in a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. 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 could cost him the entire 2025 season and is the latest low point in a Browns' tenure that has been an utter and total debacle. 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 made to trade for him (multiple first-round picks and an unprecedented five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract), the Browns would have moved on long ago.

Watson was a sunk cost even before the injury, but the Browns are stuck with him. He still has $92 million in fully guaranteed salary remaining in 2025 and 2026, making rostering another credible veteran extremely difficult.

Ultimately, Watson's injury shouldn't drastically alter the Browns' plans. Finding a young (and cheap) quarterback for the 2025 season was already their only course of action, and they have the draft capital this year to find one. They currently hold the second-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They should take long looks at Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Miami quarterback Camron Ward in the coming months.