Deshaun Watson will have his re-torn Achilles tendon repaired again on Thursday; “Return to game status uncertain” as 2025 is likely wiped out
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Deshaun Watson will have his re-torn Achilles tendon repaired again on Thursday; “Return to game status uncertain” as 2025 is likely wiped out

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Deshaun Watson’s checkered career with the Browns may be over.

Watson, the Browns’ $230 million man, underwent surgery again Thursday to repair his re-torn Achilles tendon and is expected to miss the 2025 season, the fourth year of his five-year contract.

Watson, who was recovering from the original surgery in both Cleveland and Miami, recently twisted his ankle and re-torn his tendon in Miami. He had permission from the Browns to do his rehab in both cities, including Miami, where he has a home and where his coach Billy Voltaire has a gym.

A source said Watson, 29, was devastated by the huge setback.

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He underwent the original surgery on October 25th in North Carolina with well-known foot and ankle specialist Dr. Bob Anderson, who also conducted the audit on Thursday.

Here was the Browns’ statement Friday:

“(Thursday) Deshaun Watson underwent a second surgery to repair his torn right Achilles tendon. Watson initially tore the tendon during the Browns’ Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 20. His first surgery was performed on October 25th. When Watson reported to the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus earlier this week for his final physical as part of the Browns’ end-of-season process, he complained of feeling unwell after rolling his ankle in Miami. The MRI results showed another tear in his Achilles tendon. Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, North Carolina, performed both surgeries. Watson’s recovery time and return to play are uncertain, and he will likely miss significant time in the 2025 season.

Watson is under contract with the Browns through 2025 and 2026 and will earn an average of $46 million per year. But his cap is around $73 million in each of those two years.

This story will be updated.

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