Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s season is over.
According to multiple reports, Watson’s suspected ruptured Achilles tendon injury was confirmed after an MRI Monday morning.
Watson injured his Achilles on a non-contract play in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals.
The injury is yet another startling twist in Watson’s tenure with the Browns, who believed they were getting a franchise quarterback when they signed him to a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract in 2022.
Now, everything is uncertain.
On Sunday, head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to say whether Watson was out for the season but said “That’s what it looks like.”
Watson’s leg crumpled on a non-contact play as he dropped back to pass with 1:26 left before halftime. As he planted, Watson’s calf appeared to quiver before he gave himself up and dropped to the turf.
The embattled Watson, whose two-plus seasons with Cleveland have been marked by off-field problems, injuries and poor play, covered his head with a towel as he was carted off. While he was down, the Browns and Bengals left their sidelines to surround him and offer support.
Initially, some boos could be heard before fans realized the severity of Watson’s injury.
Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett was disgusted that some fans cheered when Watson went down.
“Whether it’s an opponent that goes down or one of our own, we don’t boo,” Garrett said. “We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall — could be a season-altering, career-altering injury.
“The man is not perfect. He doesn’t need to be. None of us are expected to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does off the field or on the field because I can’t throw stones from my glass house. But we need to do better.”
Watson has been controversial since the Browns (1-6) traded three first-round draft picks to Houston for him. He was suspended the first 11 games in ’22 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault during massage therapy sessions.
Watson made six starts and showed flashes of his Pro Bowl days with the Texans last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
The 29-year-old has played poorly for most of this season, but the Browns stuck with him.
Before he got hurt, Watson was 15 of 17 for 128 yards. He was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who moved ahead of Jameis Winston on the depth chart this week. Thompson-Robinson finished 11 of 24 for 82 yards and two interceptions before leaving with a finger injury.
Winston played the final 3:43 and threw a TD pass to David Njoku and a 2-point conversion to Cedric Tillman.
With files from The Associated Press.
