Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson underwent surgery Thursday after tearing his Achilles tendon for the second time since October, the team announced Friday.

Earlier this week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters that Watson had suffered a setback in his rehab from his first Achilles tendon injury in Week 7, but that it was too early to determine the severity.

According to Berry, Watson told doctors during his release from the exam that something didn’t feel right.

Due to a second surgery, Watson’s status for the 2025 NFL season is in question, although doctors say the recovery time is expected to be at least seven months. This news could now lead to the Browns going No. 2 in the draft as a quarterback, right after the Tennessee Titans, who are also looking for a new signal-caller.

In December, Watson and the Browns agreed to a contract restructuring that will not affect the $92 million in fully guaranteed money Watson is owed for the 2025 and 2026 NFL seasons or the $72.9 million salary cap -Dollars that he will receive for each season. but it will allow Cleveland to spread his dead money over multiple seasons if he stays with the team through 2026.

The alternative was a significant cap hit in 2027, when Watson will no longer be under contract with the team.

Watson has yet to play more than seven games in a season since joining the Browns – he has played 19 total after signing a five-year, $230 million contract in 2022 – and ended his second straight season on the injured list.