Browns GM Won’t Say if Deshaun Watson Will Ever Play For Team Again

Deshaun Watson suffered a significant injury during the Cleveland Browns’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 20, 2024. He ruptured his right Achilles tendon while attempting a designed quarterback run late in the first half. Watson was immediately carted off the field, and an MRI confirmed the rupture, which will require surgical repair. As a result, he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season​.

This injury comes on top of a challenging period for Watson, who had already been dealing with inconsistent play and injuries since joining the Browns. He had missed part of the 2023 season with a shoulder issue and faced criticism for his performance this year​.

Deshaun Watson’s contract with the Cleveland Browns is a unique, fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal running through 2026. This historic contract, signed in 2022, averages $46 million per season and is fully secured, which has given the Browns limited flexibility regarding Watson’s performance and injuries. Despite restructuring his contract to create cap space, the Browns face major financial consequences if they attempt to release him early. For instance, if they were to cut him after the 2024 season, it would result in a $172 million dead cap hit in 2025, with an additional $99 million hit in 2026. This level of guaranteed money and the associated dead cap figures mean Cleveland is highly committed to Watson financially, even if performance concerns arise​.

Although it appears the Browns are tied to Watson, their GM did not confirm whether he would return as the starter, according to ESPN.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry was noncommittal when asked Wednesday about Deshaun Watson’s standing with the franchise, as the quarterback’s struggles in Cleveland continued before he sustained a season-ending right Achilles tendon tear in Week 7.

“Really our focus with Deshaun, I would say for any player with a season-ending injury and a major injury, is first and foremost and to make sure that he gets healthy from the Achilles injury,” Berry said during a news conference with reporters during the team’s bye week. “Everything else, we’ll deal with at a later moment.”

Before the injury, Watson posted the lowest Total QBR of any qualified passer in the NFL. The Browns were 1-5 in Watson’s six starts before the Achilles injury and didn’t reach 20 points in any of those games.

When later asked whether it is still possible for Watson to return as the Browns’ starting quarterback, Berry said, “Yeah, I think that’s always possible.”

Berry declined to assess the deal for Watson and whether it was a good trade.

“I’m really not in reflection mode,” he said.

It is clear to most that the Browns don’t want Watson back, but what choice do they have now?

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