Deshaun Watson: Browns’ Decision on Final Games | NFL News

Deshaun Watson’s Browns Career Stalls as Quarterback Won’t Return This Season

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will not return to the field this season, effectively ending a tumultuous chapter in his career and prompting a critical reassessment of the team’s quarterback strategy. The announcement,made by head coach Kevin Stefanski on Tuesday,comes after Watson was recently opened up for a 21-day practice window following recovery from a second Achilles injury. The Browns will conclude their season wiht games against the Pittsburgh steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Watson, 30, has not seen game action as sustaining his initial Achilles injury during the seventh game of the 2024 season, an injury that was then re-aggravated in January. His time in Cleveland has been marred by setbacks, both on and off the field, casting a long shadow over a once-promising career.

Did you know? – The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. Ruptures are common in athletes, but re-injury is a important concern.

Prior to joining the Browns, Watson established himself as a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with the Houston Texans. Though, his career trajectory shifted dramatically in 2021 when he was sidelined by the Texans amid numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. He had requested a trade before thes allegations surfaced.

Despite the serious allegations, the Browns signed Watson to an unprecedented five-year, fully-guaranteed $230 million contract after acquiring him from Houston in a trade that included two future first-round draft picks and additional selections. Months after arriving in Cleveland, Watson reached settlements with 20 of the 24 women who had filed civil lawsuits against him. The NFL subsequently fined him $5 million and suspended him for the first 11 games of the 2022 season.

Since then, Watson has appeared in just 19 games for the Browns, compiling a 9-10 record. His most triumphant stretch with the team came in 2023, when he went 5-1 as a starter before a season-ending shoulder injury during a victory over the Baltimore Ravens cut his season short.Last season,Watson was completing a career-high 63.4% of his passes before his latest injury.

The Browns’ investment in Watson has yielded minimal returns, leading to a frank admission of regret from team owner Jimmy Haslam. “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Haslam stated during NFL owners meetings. “We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. [It] was an entire organization decision, and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable.”

Pro tip – Fully-guaranteed contracts in the NFL are rare. They protect the player, but can create significant financial challenges for teams if the player’s performance declines or they face injury.

In response to Watson’s continued absence and uncertain future, the Browns underwent a significant overhaul of their quarterback room this offseason, despite Watson remaining under contract through the 2026 season. The team traded kenny Pickett – who was then subsequently traded to the Las Vegas Raiders – signed veteran Joe Flacco, and drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Flacco initially started the season for Cleveland,but was traded to Cincinnati after losing his starting role to Gabriel. gabriel, in turn, lost his

Reader question – Do you think the Browns should consider cutting ties with Watson sooner rather than later, even with the financial implications? What are your thoughts?