Report: Deshaun Watson ruptures Achilles again, undergoes second surgery

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, less than three months after tearing his Achilles, has ruptured it again.

Watson had another surgery on Thursday to repair it, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Watson already had a long road ahead but could now miss the entirety of the 2025 season.

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General manager Andrew Berry said earlier this week in his end-of-year presser that Watson had suffered a setback in his recovery.

“Deshaun is very focused on getting healthy, for all the obvious reasons,” Berry said. “That’s the first thing. That’s top of mind. Deshaun is invested in being here. At no point has he given an indication in terms of not wanting to be here or leaving the city, or anything along those lines. Really focused on getting himself healthy and performing to a higher level.”

Browns get bad news on Deshaun Watson, could be in play for QB with No. 2 pick

Watson, 29, first tore his Achilles in the Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since signing a five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns in the 2022 offseason, Watson has played in just 19-of-51 possible games. The results have been less than stellar. Watson has thrown for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 61.2% passing. Watson went to three consecutive Pro Bowls before the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans.

Even with the possibility of Watson being available to start the 2025 season, it remained likely the Browns would add to their quarterback room this offseason. Now, taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft seems all but guaranteed.

“The reality of it is, that [quarterback] room, it will look different next year,” Berry said. “It may obviously impact what the room looks like as we enter the season or camp, depending on the severity of the setback.”

The Browns owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, he has cap hits of $72.9 million in 2025 and 2026, currently the second highest in the NFL. Watson and the Browns agreed to rework his contract in December, adding void years that allows Cleveland to push out his dead salary cap into 2030.