The Browns' nightmarish 2024 season ended with a Week 18 loss and a 3-14 record. And while the season is officially over, the hits keep coming for the franchise.
On the first Monday of the offseason, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry spoke with reporters during the end-of-season exit process. During his time with the media, Berry revealed that Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery.
That setback turned out to be a devastating one, as Watson had to undergo another surgery to repair the tendon, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Watson's 2024 season was cut short by a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in Week 7, and based on the latest update, his chances to suit up during the 2025 season are becoming increasingly bleak.
Here is everything to know about Watson's injury, his latest setback and what everything means for him and the Browns moving forward.
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Deshaun Watson's Achilles injury
Watson is the latest high-profile quarterback to suffer an Achilles injury in the last two seasons. In 2023, veterans Aaron Rodgers (Week 1) and Kirk Cousins (Week 8) saw their seasons end early due to Achilles tears.
Watson's injury occurred right before halftime of Cleveland's Week 7 game with Cincinnati. As he attempted to plant his foot, Watson suffered a non-contact lower leg injury and was in evident pain. He was visibly emotional while being carted off the field.
Deshaun Watson was in tears as he was carted off the field. pic.twitter.com/hgzpq7QPZq https://t.co/jXW19a3TzK
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 20, 2024
Tests confirmed Watson suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and he underwent season-ending surgery days later.
On Jan. 10, 2025, it was revealed that Watson's setback was another ruptured Achilles tendon. He underwent a second surgery on Jan. 9, less than three months after suffering the original injury.
Sources: #Browns QB Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles again, further testing showed, and he had another surgery on Thursday to repair it.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2025
Less than 3 months after the original tear, it happened again. Watson faces a longer road back, and now he could miss all of 2025. pic.twitter.com/DAppF7ykjp
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Deshaun Watson's Achilles recovery timeline
While he has been in the NFL since 2017, Watson is a significantly younger quarterback than the other two who were plagued by similar injuries.
Recovery timelines vary by the individual, but the NYU Langone Orthopedic Center states recovery from an Achilles rupture could require up to six months to get back to walking normally or going on a hike. The same source sets a nine-month timeline for returning to soccer or football, though these timeframes are for young adults in their early 20s.
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Watson is 29 and will turn 30 as the 2025 season gets underway. A six-month timeline from his January surgery would have had him ramping up physical activity at some point in July.
That this is Watson's second injury in three months muddies up the timeline. Because he has undergone the same injury twice in such a short period, a different approach could be taken to his rehabilitation and recovery.
The 2025 NFL season will begin in September — around eight months after Watson's second Achilles injury and the surgery to repair it.
As Cleveland prepares for the offseason and NFL Draft, this will certainly impact the franchise's approach.
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