Video from Sunday's Browns-Bengals game shows the moment Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in Cleveland's 21-14 home loss.
In a slow clip from the CBS broadcast. Shared by X David J. Chao, a former NFL head team physician and injury expert, said there is a slight impact to the lower leg as the Browns quarterback steps back with the ball before losing his footing.
Chao captioned the video, “Right Achilles Tendon Rupture, Telltale Calf Reverberation Surgery and Season Ended According to Video.”
Watson, 29, went down with a non-contact injury late in the first half with the Browns trailing 7-0.
Members of the Browns surrounded a tearful Watson as he was carried out of Cleveland's Huntington Bank Field.
With the Browns losing and falling to 1-6, backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Watson.
In the postgame press conference, head coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged that Watson was likely suffering from an Achilles injury. added“Let's get tested to make sure. But it looks like this.”
Watson, who the Browns signed to a five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million in March 2022, has struggled this season with five touchdowns and three interceptions through seven games.
The polarizing quarterback has also been embroiled in controversy off the field, with an anonymous plaintiff accusing Watson of sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident in 2020.
The parties settled the lawsuit earlier this month.
Watson was previously suspended for 11 games in the 2022 season following allegations of sexual misconduct by a massage therapist in 24 civil lawsuits, 23 of which were settled privately.
Although he has gone off the rails this season in Cleveland, Watson, whose 2023 season was cut short last November after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, has the support of his teammates and was a member of the Browns on Sunday. There were boos from the crowd.
Star defensive end Myles Garrett said, “When you think about how the fans react, they don't boo when they go down, when our team goes down.'' “We don't boo an injured player on the field, especially when Kurt comes out. We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans for booing someone or their downfall.” It could be a career-changing injury. People aren't perfect. He doesn't have to be. We don't expect anyone to be.”
Next Sunday, the Browns host the Ravens (4-2).
