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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Agrees to contract restructure
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has agreed to a contract restructure that frees up $36 million in 2025 cap space for the Cleveland Browns, Field Yates of ESPN reports.The agreement likely adds another void year to the contract while also converting base salary into a bonus. Watson still figures to get all the money from his disastrous, fully guaranteed contract, although he may eventually play out the end of the deal as a backup or even be released. His 2024 campaign ended in October after he ruptured his right Achilles tendon -- an injury that was surgically repaired shortly thereafter, only for Watson to re-rupture the tendon later on. He had a second surgery Jan. 9, making him unlikely to be ready for Week 1 of 2025 (almost exactly eight months later). Watson has been rehabbing at the team facility but is expected to miss "significant time in the 2025 season," according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Once healthy, Watson may have to settle for a backup role, be it behind a rookie or another veteran quarterback.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Has setback with Achilles injury
After rupturing his Achilles again, Deshaun Watson underwent another surgery Thursday to address the injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN report.As a result of the setback, Watson's 2025 season could now be in jeopardy. Look for further details regarding Watson's estimated recovery timeline to emerge in the coming days and weeks, but the Cleveland Browns figure to fortify their depth at the quarterback position this offseason, via free agency, trade or through the 2025 NFL Draft in which Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall selection.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Hits snag in recovery
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Monday that Deshaun Watson has experienced a setback in his rehab from Achilles surgery that will extend the quarterback's recovery timeline, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.Watson suffered the season-ending injury in an Oct. 20 loss to the Bengals and underwent surgery Oct. 25 to repair his torn right Achilles. According to Berry, the Browns weren't aware of Watson having suffered a setback until he was evaluated again Sunday during his end-of-season physical. As a result of the setback, Berry noted that Watson could require another surgery, though the quarterback presumably will receive multiple medical opinions over the next few weeks before deciding the next steps in his rehab program. Given the nature of Achilles injuries, Watson was already facing an uphill battle to be back to full health for the start of the 2025 campaign, and it's now even more likely that he opens next season on a reserve list. After agreeing to a restructured contract in late December, Watson remains on the Browns' books through the 2026 season, but his underwhelming play over his first three seasons in Cleveland in addition to the Achilles injury muddles his long-term outlook in the organization. The Browns will also be picking second in the 2025 NFL Draft, putting them in prime position to select Watson's successor.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Agrees to restructured contract
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) and the Cleveland Browns agreed to a restructured contract Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.The restructured contract doesn't alter Watson's pay or salary structure, but it spreads out the financial impact of the deal by adding two void years. The quarterback still is under contract, will be paid the next two seasons and then become a free agent in 2027. The restructure does not necessarily mean Watson will be the team's quarterback in 2025, and the state of his injured ankle is not the only unknown. The Browns are expected to revamp the roster, which could impact Watson's status.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Surgery completed
Deshaun Watson underwent successful surgery Friday to repair a ruptured right Achilles' tendon, Kelsey Russo of the Cleveland 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Surgery set for Friday
Deshaun 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 Cleveland 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Moves to IR
The Cleveland Browns placed Deshaun 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Achilles tear confirmed
Deshaun 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 Cleveland 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Could be done for season
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski noted after Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Bengals that Deshaun 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Sustains Achilles injury Sunday
Deshaun Watson won't return to Sunday's game against the Bengals after suffering an Achilles injury.Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it is feared that Watson suffered a torn Achilles, and if that's the case, the QB would face an extended absence. With Jameis Winston serving as the Cleveland Browns' emergency third QB on Sunday, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has taken over for Watson versus Cincinnati.
Deshaun Watson
#4 QB / Cleveland Browns / EXP: 8YRS Height: 6-3 Weight: 223 lb Age: 29 College: Clemson Bye 10Fantasy Points by Week
- PROJ
- FANTASY PTS
- Rost
- 6%
- Start
- 1%
- QB Rank
- 22