Video from the Browns-Bengals game on Sunday shows the moment Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Cleveland’s 21-14 home loss.
In a slowed-down clip from the CBS broadcast shared on X by David J.Chao, a former NFL head team doctor and injury expert, a slight pop can be seen in the Browns quarterback’s lower leg as he steps back before losing his footing with the ball in hand.
“By video, clear right Achilles tendon rupture Telltale calf reverberation Surgery and season over,” Chao captioned the video.
That diagnosis was accurate as ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed Monday morning that Watson would be out for the season with a ruptured Achilles.
Watson, 29, went down with the non-contact injury late in the first half with the Browns trailing 7-0.
Members of the Browns surrounded Watson, who was in tears, as he was carted off Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field.
Backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson relieved Watson as the Browns fell to 1-6 with the loss.
Watson, whom the Browns signed to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in March 2022, has been struggling this season, throwing five touchdowns and three interceptions through seven games.
The polarizing quarterback has also been engrossed in an off-field controversy, with an unnamed plaintiff accusing Watson of sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident in 2020.
The parties settled the suit earlier this month.
Watson was previously suspended for 11 games in the 2022 season following allegations of sexual misconduct made by massage therapists in 24 civil suits, 23 of which were settled confidentially.
Although the rails have come off in Cleveland this season, Watson — whose 2023 campaign was cut short last November following season-ending shoulder surgery — has the support of his teammates, with members of the Browns calling out the boo birds Sunday.
“With the reaction that the fans gave, whether it’s an opponent who goes down or one of our own, we don’t boo,” star defense end Myles Garrett said. “We don’t boo guys that are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out. We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall. Could be season-altering, career-altering injury. Man is not perfect. He doesn’t need to be. None of us expect to be perfect.”
The Browns host the Ravens (4-2) next Sunday.
