CLEVELAND — The future of Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns has become increasingly uncertain following a serious injury. The quarterback, who has already faced challenges in his time with the team, has ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time within three months and has undergone another surgery, raising concerns about the future of his career.

This recent setback could mark a difficult conclusion to Watson’s tumultuous association with the Browns, who had high hopes of finding a franchise quarterback when they signed him to a groundbreaking $230 million contract back in 2022. Regrettably, the partnership has not yielded favorable results for either party, and the current injury may lead to a definitive separation between Watson and the organization.

On Friday, the Browns released a statement indicating that Watson experienced discomfort in his leg after “rolling” his ankle while he was in Miami. He communicated this issue during a season-ending exit review on Sunday. Subsequent medical examinations uncovered a re-rupture, prompting surgery on Thursday.

Over the last three seasons with Cleveland, Watson has participated in only 19 games due to a combination of an NFL suspension and injuries. The organization has not provided details regarding his rehabilitation timeline, but they have stated that he will be sidelined for a “significant time” in 2025. This injury further complicates his relationship with the team, which still owes him $92 million from the fully guaranteed contract he signed in 2022.

Earlier this week, Browns general manager Andrew Berry mentioned Watson had experienced a setback, and the team was in the process of gathering additional information. Watson, who is now 29 years old, originally sustained his injury on October 20 during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and underwent surgery just five days later. While rehabbing away from the team, he suffered the injury again.

The specifics of how Watson re-injured his Achilles remain unclear, although the organization holds insurance for the contract. Should Watson be out for the entire season, the Browns stand to regain some financial resources and enjoy salary-cap relief from the league. In December, the team restructured Watson’s contract, adding void years at the end to enhance their financial flexibility.

Even prior to this latest surgery, Watson’s time in Cleveland had been marked by uncertainty. The demanding investment made by the Browns, which included the record contract and trading away three first-round picks to the Houston Texans, has not produced the results they anticipated. Once regarded as one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league during his tenure with the Texans, Watson missed the first 11 games of the 2022 season following an independent arbitrator’s ruling that he had violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy amid allegations from over two dozen women about sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions while he was with the Texans.

Watson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 after starting just six games. The team later brought in veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who surprisingly managed to lead the Browns to only their third playoff appearance since 1999. Upon returning, Watson had several disappointing outings this past season, failing to surpass 200 passing yards in any game and ranking among the league’s least effective quarterbacks before suffering the Achilles injury during a draw play against the Bengals.

Amid the developments, some fans even cheered Watson’s misfortune, creating tension among his teammates. Following his injury, Jameis Winston took over, starting seven games before being benched. Second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson also saw playtime before the Browns ultimately turned to Bailey Zappe for the season finale against Baltimore. Zappe’s appearance marked the 40th different quarterback to start for the Browns since they returned to the league in 1999.

Regardless of Watson’s injury status, the Browns are poised to make considerable changes to their quarterback situation after finishing the season with a dismal 3-14 record, placing them last in the AFC North. They hold the second overall pick in the upcoming draft and are likely to evaluate options including Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. Additionally, they are expected to pursue a veteran quarterback through trades or free agency.

“The reality is that our quarterback room will look significantly different next year,” Berry remarked during his closing press conference. As it stands, Watson’s return to that room seems far from assured.