The Cleveland Browns had high hopes for the 2024 season. Entering the year healthy and without off-the-field concerns, the team expected Deshaun Watson to return to form and lead this team to the postseason.
Instead, disaster struck in more ways than one. Watson looked like one of the worst quarterbacks in the league this season and then suffered a season-ending injury. Now, he is dealing with a serious setback. What’s the latest on Watson’s injury and his potential recovery timeline?
What Is Deshaun Watson’s Injury?
Watson started the first seven games of the season for the Browns. In Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watson made a move to scramble, pushed off using his right leg, and immediately ruptured his Achilles tendon.
The moment it happened, it was clear that the injury was severe given the characteristic vibration down the calf. It was similar to what was seen with Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins in 2023.
Shortly after the game, the Browns confirmed what many already suspected from the video: Watson was done for the year due to a ruptured Achilles.
Unfortunately for Watson, he has now ruptured his Achilles again.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson underwent surgery Thursday after tearing his Achilles again, and his status for the 2025 season is now in jeopardy, per league sources.
Watson met Thursday with Dr. Robert Anderson before undergoing the surgery.
Watson tore his right Achilles tendon… pic.twitter.com/wEhPxlFuMk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2025
Watson tore his Achilles for the second time in roughly three months, which puts him at risk of missing the 2025 season.
Watson’s stint with Cleveland has been plagued by injuries. Over the last three seasons (from 2022 to 2024), he played in just 19 games. Over that span, he threw for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a 61.2% completion percentage.
When Will Watson Return From Injury?
The timeline for a ruptured Achilles is typically something close to a full year, depending on the position and age of the player.
For a 29-year-old who suffered this injury in mid-October, the hope was that Watson would be able to participate in training camp or be ready for the start of the season.
But after suffering another ruptured Achilles, he has reset his recovery timeline.
“Doctors consider the recovery from the latest surgery to repair Deshaun Watson’s torn Achilles to be at least seven months, potentially giving him a chance to return next season,” Schefter noted.
Doctors consider the recovery from the latest surgery to repair Deshaun Watson’s torn Achilles to be at least seven months, potentially giving him a chance to return next season. https://t.co/iluBjiKTvd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2025
It’s possible that he will be able to suit up for the Browns during the 2025 season, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll be ready.
Also, he was dreadful while healthy in 2024, so it’s hard to imagine his play improving after suffering back-to-back ruptured Achilles — an injury that greatly impacts mobility and performance.
How Has Watson’s Absence Impacted the Browns?
This isn’t meant to pile on, but Watson was playing like the worst quarterback in the league at the time of his injury, so the Browns’ QB change actually worked in their favor.
This season, Watson is currently dead last in PFN’s QB+ metric, receiving an F grade. PFN’s QB+ metric assigns a letter grade to every quarterback performance and factors in a number of stats such as success rate when pressured, third-down conversion rate, pocket production, and clutch performance.
Even before getting hurt, Watson was in the bottom five for nearly every metric, including third-down conversion rate, nYPA, passing from a clean pocket, and passing when under pressure.
Once Jameis Winston took over for Watson, the offense had some life. At the time of Watson’s injury, the Browns had lost five straight games and hadn’t scored more than 16 points in any of them — the longest such streak within a single season since the 2017 Texans. However, in Winston’s first start, Cleveland put up season-highs in points (29) and passing yards (334).
Now, Cleveland owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so it’s possible they will draft a quarterback such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward. There are also rumblings that they could sign Kirk Cousins for the veteran’s minimum once he’s released by the Atlanta Falcons — similar to the deal Russell Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. This could give Cleveland a low-risk, high-reward veteran option without breaking the bank because of Watson’s huge contract.
If Cleveland cuts Watson this offseason, they will have a 2025 dead-cap hit of $118.9 million (including $92 million cash) and a 2026 dead-cap hit of $53.8 million, according to Spotrac. This would be the largest dead-cap hit in NFL history, beating the $85 million dead-money hit (including $53 million in 2024) that the Denver Broncos absorbed when they released Wilson.
Let’s say the Browns hold onto Watson until after the 2025 season and then decide to cut him. They would still get hit with a historic dead-cap hit of $72,935,000 (including $46 million cash) in 2026 and $26,900,000 in 2027.
Watson’s contract is up in 2027. It’s worth noting that nearly all of Watson’s 2025 earnings are insured, so Cleveland could receive a cap credit if Watson can’t play next season.
Watson’s deal was widely regarded as the worst contract in the NFL before he got hurt. Now, after back-to-back ruptured Achilles, it only looks worse.