DW4 will not give up. I still believe in him and believe he will be a high level starter again at some future point. Got my fingers crossed for the Clemson GOAT!!!
www.cleveland.com
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is determined to play again. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
By Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com
INDIANAPOLIS — Browns GM Andrew Berry said on Tuesday that Deshaun Watson wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t have been when he re-ruptured his right Achilles last month.
Social media was abuzz after the re-injury, with widespread speculation that the Browns might try to recoup some or all of the $92 million they still owe him for the final two years of his five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Some websites even showed old videos of Watson on a boat to try to prove their point, and some posted one of him out of his walking boot, which he indicated in an Instagram post on Dec. 26 that doctors had told him he could shed.
But Berry threw water on all of that speculation on Tuesday that Watson was doing something wrong when the Achilles repair came undone.
“Unfortunately, he turned his foot (or) ankle that caused the re-tear during the normal stages of the recovery process,” Berry said Tuesday during his NFL Combine podium interview. “I know there’s been a lot of speculation and everything out there, but there’s nothing nefarious. It’s just an unfortunate accident. So our focus is on making sure that he gets healthy and can be back to normal.”
Berry, who’s leaving no stone unturned his search for a new starting quarterback, reiterated Tuesday that Watson will miss “significant time” in 2025, but couldn’t pin it down specifically.
“How far that spans into 2025, I can’t give you a specific right now,” Berry said Tuesday. “He’s shown to be a fast healer and we’re going to try and be as thoughtful and aggressive with the recovery process, but that’s not something that I could predict at currently.”
The Browns have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and are strongly considering Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders there. They’re also open to any veterans who might become available, and may have at least inquired about Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who’s been given permission to seek a trade.
Kevin Stefanski, meanwhile, revealed Wednesday that Watson has been rehabbing at the Browns’ facility in Berea since undergoing the re-repair on Jan. 10, and that he plans to do so throughout the season.
“He’s there every day right now,” Stefanski said. “I get to see him, so he’s working very hard. Obviously the No. 1 thing for him is to get healthy.”
Watson first had the Achilles repaired by noted foot and ankle specialist Dr. Bob Anderson in North Carolina after rupturing it Oct. 27 against the Bengals. Anderson, who also performed the revision last month, announced his retirement last week from surgery.
When the re-tear occurred, Watson was in the midst of trying to come back to compete for the starting job in 2024, and the Browns were prepared to let him battle it out with whomever they acquired — either a veteran or a rookie — with an eye toward much better QB play in 2025.
The re-tear was an enormous physical and emotional setback for Watson, but now that he’s making good progress again, he’s in a good headspace and determined to make a comeback, a league source told cleveland.com. But whether or not he plays another snap for the Browns remains to be seen. They’ll either start a new veteran quarterback, or their rookie if he’s ready.
With Watson, who went 9-10 in his three injury- and suspension-shortened seasons, not having played a full season since 2020, he’s not in the plans for meaningful playing time as the Browns try to recover from the failed trade, in which they surrendered three first-round picks to the Texans. Their No. 2 overall pick this year marks their return to the first round for the first time since 2021.
“He’s taking it day to day like all of us do in life,” Stefanski said when asked about Watson’s mindset. “Again, the most important thing, he had a very unfortunate injury, re-injury with having surgery again. So the No. 1 thing is for him to get healthy.”
It won’t be easy for Watson to make it back to the field after tearing the same Achilles twice, but it’s certainly possible. Achilles tears are usually about a nine-month injury, which could have him available by October. But the medical staff will likely proceed with extra caution, and possibly keep him out the whole season. Afterward, the Browns, who recently added more void years to the contract to spread out the cap charges, might be able to part ways with him without destroying their ability to do business.
The Browns must also restructure Watson’s contract again soon because of his $73 million cap charge for 2025, and Berry also said Tuesday that the Browns can afford a high-priced new veteran if they opt to go that route. But if Watson can make it back at some point from the re-tear, perhaps the Browns can still salvage something from the trade.
In the meantime, he’ll be around in the quarterback room to work alongside the Browns' new veteran and rookie QBs.
Deshaun Watson was doing ‘nothing nefarious’ during Achilles re-tear; rehabbing in Cleveland and determined to play again
Deshaun Watson was doing nothing he shouldn't have been doing when he re-tore his Achilles, according to Andrew Berry.
Deshaun Watson was doing ‘nothing nefarious’ during Achilles re-tear; rehabbing in Cleveland and determined to play again
- Updated: Feb. 28, 2025, 12:09 a.m.
- |Published: Feb. 26, 2025, 4:06 p.m.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is determined to play again. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
By Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com
INDIANAPOLIS — Browns GM Andrew Berry said on Tuesday that Deshaun Watson wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t have been when he re-ruptured his right Achilles last month.
Social media was abuzz after the re-injury, with widespread speculation that the Browns might try to recoup some or all of the $92 million they still owe him for the final two years of his five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Some websites even showed old videos of Watson on a boat to try to prove their point, and some posted one of him out of his walking boot, which he indicated in an Instagram post on Dec. 26 that doctors had told him he could shed.
But Berry threw water on all of that speculation on Tuesday that Watson was doing something wrong when the Achilles repair came undone.
“Unfortunately, he turned his foot (or) ankle that caused the re-tear during the normal stages of the recovery process,” Berry said Tuesday during his NFL Combine podium interview. “I know there’s been a lot of speculation and everything out there, but there’s nothing nefarious. It’s just an unfortunate accident. So our focus is on making sure that he gets healthy and can be back to normal.”
Berry, who’s leaving no stone unturned his search for a new starting quarterback, reiterated Tuesday that Watson will miss “significant time” in 2025, but couldn’t pin it down specifically.
“How far that spans into 2025, I can’t give you a specific right now,” Berry said Tuesday. “He’s shown to be a fast healer and we’re going to try and be as thoughtful and aggressive with the recovery process, but that’s not something that I could predict at currently.”
The Browns have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and are strongly considering Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders there. They’re also open to any veterans who might become available, and may have at least inquired about Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who’s been given permission to seek a trade.
Kevin Stefanski, meanwhile, revealed Wednesday that Watson has been rehabbing at the Browns’ facility in Berea since undergoing the re-repair on Jan. 10, and that he plans to do so throughout the season.
“He’s there every day right now,” Stefanski said. “I get to see him, so he’s working very hard. Obviously the No. 1 thing for him is to get healthy.”
Watson first had the Achilles repaired by noted foot and ankle specialist Dr. Bob Anderson in North Carolina after rupturing it Oct. 27 against the Bengals. Anderson, who also performed the revision last month, announced his retirement last week from surgery.
When the re-tear occurred, Watson was in the midst of trying to come back to compete for the starting job in 2024, and the Browns were prepared to let him battle it out with whomever they acquired — either a veteran or a rookie — with an eye toward much better QB play in 2025.
The re-tear was an enormous physical and emotional setback for Watson, but now that he’s making good progress again, he’s in a good headspace and determined to make a comeback, a league source told cleveland.com. But whether or not he plays another snap for the Browns remains to be seen. They’ll either start a new veteran quarterback, or their rookie if he’s ready.
With Watson, who went 9-10 in his three injury- and suspension-shortened seasons, not having played a full season since 2020, he’s not in the plans for meaningful playing time as the Browns try to recover from the failed trade, in which they surrendered three first-round picks to the Texans. Their No. 2 overall pick this year marks their return to the first round for the first time since 2021.
“He’s taking it day to day like all of us do in life,” Stefanski said when asked about Watson’s mindset. “Again, the most important thing, he had a very unfortunate injury, re-injury with having surgery again. So the No. 1 thing is for him to get healthy.”
It won’t be easy for Watson to make it back to the field after tearing the same Achilles twice, but it’s certainly possible. Achilles tears are usually about a nine-month injury, which could have him available by October. But the medical staff will likely proceed with extra caution, and possibly keep him out the whole season. Afterward, the Browns, who recently added more void years to the contract to spread out the cap charges, might be able to part ways with him without destroying their ability to do business.
The Browns must also restructure Watson’s contract again soon because of his $73 million cap charge for 2025, and Berry also said Tuesday that the Browns can afford a high-priced new veteran if they opt to go that route. But if Watson can make it back at some point from the re-tear, perhaps the Browns can still salvage something from the trade.
In the meantime, he’ll be around in the quarterback room to work alongside the Browns' new veteran and rookie QBs.
