CLEVELAND — In a significant setback for the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Deshaun Watson appears to have sustained a potentially season-ending Achilles tendon injury during the first half of their 21-14 defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The loss marked a notable achievement for Joe Burrow, who secured his first road victory against the Browns, a rival in the AFC North.
Watson’s injury occurred in an unfortunate non-contact play with just 1:26 left in the second quarter. As he attempted to plant his foot while dropping back to pass, his leg buckled, leading him to collapse on the field. In a touching scene, players from both teams gathered around Watson as he lay on the turf, offering their support while he was taken off the field on a cart, covering his head with a towel.
The Browns have confirmed that Watson injured his Achilles tendon, but they have not disclosed further details regarding the injury. There is a strong possibility that he will not return for the remainder of the season, and speculation is growing that his time with the franchise might have come to an end.
Meanwhile, Burrow excelled on the field, throwing two touchdown passes during the third quarter, which helped the Bengals (3-4) break a six-game losing streak in matchups against Cleveland. Despite his prowess against most teams, Burrow had faced challenges against the Browns, entering the game with a record of 1-5 against them, including three losses on the road.
Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for an 18-yard touchdown and later with Tee Higgins for a 25-yard score. He finished the game with 15 completions out of 25 attempts for a total of 181 passing yards.
Deshaun Watson’s arrival in Cleveland came with high expectations, having signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022 following a trade that involved three first-round draft picks to Houston. However, his time with the team has been overshadowed by controversies, including an 11-game suspension in 2022 due to multiple allegations of sexual assault linked to massage therapy sessions. Despite showing glimpses of his former Pro Bowl self last season before a shoulder injury cut his year short, his performance this season has been lackluster.
Prior to his injury, Watson had completed 15 out of 17 passes for 128 yards. He was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who moved past Jameis Winston on the depth chart this week. Thompson-Robinson completed 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards and also threw two interceptions before leaving the game with a finger injury. Winston took the field in the final minutes, connecting on a touchdown pass to David Njoku along with a successful 2-point conversion.
The game opened dramatically as Charlie Jones returned the kickoff for the Bengals with an impressive 100-yard touchdown, which set the tone for Cincinnati. This was particularly significant for Jones as it was only his third kickoff return touchdown in his career; he had also notched an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown last season against Baltimore.
Cleveland welcomed back running back Nick Chubb, who had missed significant time due to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of the previous season. After Watson’s departure, Chubb managed to score a 1-yard touchdown, delighting the crowd that had cheered his return during player introductions. The ovation for Chubb came just after Watson faced boos from fans before the Browns’ first home game in three weeks.
The Bengals’ early momentum saw them leading 7-0 before Burrow even had the opportunity to throw a pass. Jones’ touchdown on the opening kickoff not only shifted the game in favor of the Bengals but also registered as the longest kick return this season under the new kickoff rules.
Regarding player injuries, the Bengals suffered another blow when safety Geno Stone was carted off with a severe leg injury late in the fourth quarter after being accidentally struck by teammate Vonn Bell. Additionally, left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. exited in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return to play.
Looking ahead, the Bengals will host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday, while the Browns are set to face the Baltimore Ravens at home on the same day.