### Browns’ Quarterback Deshaun Watson Suffers Achilles Injury Against Bengals

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson left Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with what appears to be a serious Achilles injury. The incident occurred in the first half when Watson planted his right leg while preparing to scrabble, leading to an immediate collapse on the field.

Trainers rushed to Watson's aid as backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson commenced his warm-up. Eventually, Watson had to be assisted off the field on a cart, visibly emotional and covering his face with a towel. The injury forced the Browns to officially rule Watson out for the game with an Achilles injury.

Watson, who is in his third season with the Browns after being traded from the Houston Texans in 2022, has had a tumultuous career both on and off the field. While he was a Pro Bowl selection in three of his four seasons with the Texans and has a notable football pedigree coming out of Clemson as a first-round draft pick in 2017, his tenure has not been without significant controversies. Watson has faced multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from over 20 women, although a grand jury in Houston ultimately decided not to indict him on criminal charges. Many of these civil lawsuits were settled confidentially.

Despite these allegations and missing an entire season in 2021, the Browns signed Watson to a groundbreaking, fully guaranteed five-year $230 million contract in March 2022. This decision was made in hopes that Watson would be the missing piece to lead a Browns roster capable of competing for a championship. However, Watson’s performance has been inconsistent since joining the Browns, and he faced an 11-game suspension in 2022 due to the NFL's investigation into the allegations against him. He also incurred a $5 million fine, marking the largest ever levied against an NFL player.

Watson has struggled statistically during his time in Cleveland. In his first season, he completed just 58.2% of his passes for 183.7 yards per game, with seven touchdowns and five interceptions over six games. His difficulties continued in 2023, being limited to six games due to shoulder surgery, with similar performance struggles. Prior to his injury in 2024, Watson's completion rate stood at 61.3% for 170 yards per game, along with a quarterback rating of 76.6, the lowest of his career.

Most recently, Watson faced another civil lawsuit in September 2024, alleging sexual assault from an incident in 2020. This case was settled confidentially in October. The Browns and the NFL are both monitoring the legal process closely, with an NFL investigation still ongoing.

With Watson’s uncertain future following this latest injury, the Browns — who started the season 1-5 — will now rely on Thompson-Robinson to navigate the rest of their campaign.