“Deshaun Watson’s Struggles Continue: Injury Forces Browns to Seek New Quarterback Solution”
The Deshaun Watson experiment with the Cleveland Browns has consistently been viewed as a failure. Over his first two seasons with the team, the quarterback has played in only 12 games, sidelined by both a suspension and a shoulder injury.
Watson was acquired in a major trade with the Houston Texans prior to the 2022 season, signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract as part of the deal. This was notably set against the backdrop of Watson settling with two dozen women who had accused him of sexual misconduct.
From the moment he took his first snap for the Browns in 2022, Watson was under intense scrutiny, which intensified leading up to Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, where the Browns entered with a 1-5 record.
There has been speculation about head coach Kevin Stefanski benching the expensive quarterback, though he dismissed those rumors after the previous week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Following a serious lower-body injury Watson sustained late in the second quarter of Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals, the Browns now have to look for a new quarterback option. Concerns quickly arose that Watson might have torn his Achilles, a possibility Stefanski hinted at after the game, suggesting the team believes this injury is serious.
“It doesn’t look good with the injury,” Stefanski said post-game, according to ESPN. “I’ll give him a call here in a little bit … I’m disappointed for him. Losing any player is tough because of how much it means to them and how hard they work.”
Injuries of this nature typically require about a year of rehabilitation. In the meantime, the Browns are largely left with their current quarterback options.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped in for Watson on Sunday but soon left due to a potentially serious finger injury. Veteran Jameis Winston then took over and managed to lead the Browns to a touchdown during his brief time on the field.