Daniel Oyefusi, ESPN
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson he underwent surgery on Thursday after re-rupturing his right Achilles tendon and his status for the 2025 season is now in jeopardy, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Doctors believe it will take at least seven months for Watson to recover from recent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon, potentially giving him a chance to return next season, Schefter sources said.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry announced Monday that Watson suffered a setback after passing a season-ending medical. Watson, who has been splitting time between Cleveland and Miami during his rehabilitation, reported discomfort to the team. Before her surgery, Watson met with Dr. Robert Anderson on Thursday.
Watson, 29, initially ruptured his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, meaning his season ended for the second straight year due to injury. He also missed the final eight games of the 2023 season after surgery on his throwing shoulder.
Berry said during his end-of-season press conference that Watson’s loss would not significantly impact the team’s offseason plans at the quarterback position. The only other quarterback under contract through the 2025 season is Dorian Thompson-Robinsona 2023 fifth-round draft pick who has struggled in two starts this season. Jameis Winstonwho started seven games and then moved to the bench after Watson was injured, is an unrestricted free agent. Bailey Zappewho started the season finale, is a restricted free agent.
The Browns have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which could be used on a top quarterback.
“I think the reality is the room is going to look different next year,” Berry said Monday.
Watson has two years left on the five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract he signed before the 2022 season. The Browns owe Watson $46 million for each of the next two seasons, and he has a cap hit of $72.9 million in 2025 and 2026 dollars, which is currently the second highest result in the NFL. Watson has played in just 19 games since the Browns traded three first-round picks for him in March 2022. Before his season-ending injury, he had the lowest total QBR in the NFL.
In late December, the Browns and Watson agreed to amend his contract to add void years to it, which would allow the Browns to extend the current salary cap to 2030, league sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
