Deshaun Watson injury update: MRI shows Browns QB has suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s season is over. Watson suffered a non-contact injury late in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals and suffered a hamstring injury. An MRI on Monday revealed that Watson had indeed suffered a tear, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirms.

The severity of the injury means Watson is out for the year, something the Browns had feared. He could return for Week 1 of the 2025 season if area surgery is successful.

After the game, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said the team feared Watson would be out for the season. “Let’s do the tests first,” Stefanski told reporters, “but this is what it looks like.”

Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Watson in the middle after Watson was carted off the field. However, Thompson-Robinson suffered a finger injury that forced emergency quarterback Jameis Winston out of the game in the final moments of the 21-14 loss.

The Bengals were leading 7-0 when Watson went down. He completed 15 of 17 yards for 128 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions before the injury. The loss now reduces the organization to 1-6 on the year and puts it in even greater turmoil as far as Watson’s tenure is concerned.

Watson missed the 2021 season due to a contract dispute with the Texans. He missed the first 11 games of the 2022 season – his first with the Browns – and served a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy on sexual misconduct. He played just six games in 2022 and just six games in 2023, missing due to injury. He played in just six complete games that season before suffering a likely season-ending injury.

As of Sunday, Watson had 1,020 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions so far this season.