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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Surgery completed

  10/25/2024 • By RotoWire

  Watson underwent successful surgery Friday to repair a ruptured right Achilles' tendon, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports. With his surgery going off without any complications, the 29-year-old quarterback should be back to full health for the start of the 2025 season, provided he steers clear of setbacks during what will be a lengthy rehab process. Though the Achilles surgery could curb Watson's rushing ability moving forward, the bigger question is whether he'll re-emerge as a starter in 2025 for the Browns or another team. He's still on the Browns' books through 2026 on a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract, but Watson has hardly resembled the franchise quarterback that Cleveland thought it was getting when they acquired him in March 2022. Through his 19 career starts with Cleveland over three seasons, Watson has led the team to 9-10 record while completing 61.2 percent of his throws for 6.0 yards per attempt and a 19:12 TD:INT to go with 465 rushing yards and three more scores.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Surgery set for Friday

  10/23/2024 • By RotoWire

  Watson is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday to repair his ruptured right Achilles' tendon, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. He'll have the procedure overseen by Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson, who specializes in foot and ankle orthopedic surgeries. According to Cabot, Watson will be facing a nine-month recovery, which should put him on pace to be close to 100 percent before the start of the 2025 season. Though Watson is still on the Browns' books through the 2026 season after signing a five-year extension for $230 million guaranteed in March 2022, his poor play and inability to stay on the field over his first three seasons in Cleveland could prompt the team to go in a different direction at quarterback in 2025, even if he's fully healthy.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Moves to IR

  10/22/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Browns placed Watson (Achilles) on injured reserve Tuesday. After Watson suffered a season-ending ruptured right Achilles' tendon in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Bengals, the Browns didn't wait long to clear a spot for another quarterback in Bailey Zappe, who was signed off Kansas City's practice squad. With Watson set to undergo surgery in the near future, the Browns will turn the offense over to either Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) or Jameis Winston beginning with the team's Week 8 game against the Ravens. Since being traded to the Browns in March 2022 and signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million extension, Watson has made just 19 appearances, completing 61.2 percent of his passes for 6.0 yards per attempt and a 19:12 TD:INT. The 29-year-old should be ready to return for the start of the 2025 season, though given his poor form over the past few years, it's unclear if the Browns will still view him as a viable starting option.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Achilles tear confirmed

  10/21/2024 • By RotoWire

  Watson (Achilles) is done for the season after an MRI on Monday confirmed a torn Achilles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Watson's season-ending injury during Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Bengals puts Jameis Winston in a position to enter the starting lineup for Cleveland, though it was Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) who suited up as the Browns' backup quarterback Sunday versus Cincinnati. After a contract restructure to create cap space in 2023 and 2024, Watson is on the books for a $46 million base salary in both of the 2025 and 2026 seasons, though it's possible that insurance for season-ending injuries could now provide the Browns with some relief. In any case, Watson faces a lengthy recovery process that could put him at risk of being unavailable early in the 2025 campaign.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Could be done for season

  10/20/2024 • By RotoWire

  Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski noted after Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Bengals that Watson is believed to have suffered a season-ending Achilles injury but will undergo testing to confirm the severity of the issue, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. With Watson facing the possibility of an extended absence and Dorian Thompson-Robinson dealing with a finger injury, Jameis Winston is currently the healthiest Browns' QB ahead of next Sunday's game against the Ravens. In any case, look for added context regarding Watson's injury to arrive no later than Monday, but based on the initial diagnosis, he appears headed for IR in the coming days.

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