Daniel Oyefusi, ESPN
FOUR DAYS BEFORE the Cleveland Browns’ 2024 season opener at Huntington Financial institution Area, Deshaun Watson was requested if he nonetheless thought of himself one of many league’s elite quarterbacks.
Watson, for whom Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans and assured $230 million for 5 years in 2022, had performed 12 video games for the reason that 2020 season.
He’d led the NFL in passing yards, yards per try and yards per completion in 2020. However, hoping to be traded, he sat out the 2021 season. Throughout that point, he was accused by greater than two dozen ladies of sexual assault and sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes — allegations which ultimately led to an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s private conduct coverage to start out his Browns profession in 2022.
Heading into the 2024 season, Watson’s 41.9 QBR since making his Browns debut was the sixth-worst mark within the league throughout that span. However the quarterback was assured he may return to his standing as the most effective at his place.
“After all. Little question,” Watson answered.
Seven video games into the 2024 season, Watson ruptured his proper Achilles on a noncontact play in a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, ending his season. He completed with a league-worst 23.5 QBR with 5 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Watson’s damage capped a tumultuous two months for the 29-year-old. He produced the worst statistical season of his profession, failing to settle into an offense adjusted to raised go well with him. He went by means of the deaths of his father and a former school teammate. He was booed throughout Sunday’s participant introductions by house followers. All of the whereas, his confidence on the sphere and standing as Cleveland’s starter had been continually questioned because the poor performances — and losses — piled up. And in September, a recent lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 2020 was filed and later settled.
In Watson’s absence, the Browns will begin 10-year veteran Jameis Winston at quarterback in Sunday’s recreation towards the Baltimore Ravens (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Watson, scheduled for surgical procedure on Friday, has two extra years of totally assured cash on his deal. However the Browns’ actions over the following a number of months may reveal what they consider his time in Cleveland. At 1-6, the franchise is trending towards a excessive draft choose and alternative to pick a high quarterback within the 2025 draft.
The lasting picture of Watson’s 2024 — the quarterback writhing in ache on the bottom after which weeping below a towel whereas being carted off — ended the newest chapter of his Browns profession, and one other season wherein he didn’t seize his peak kind.
“I am disenchanted that it is solely X variety of video games that he is capable of play this season,” coach Kevin Stefanski stated. “However I do suppose we all know what he is about. I do know what he brings to the desk for this soccer crew.”
AFTER THE BROWNS’ 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1, Watson, hunching over in a seat at his locker, slowly received dressed as he listened to Winston, one in every of Watson’s most vocal advocates this season.
Quickly after, Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry entered the room. He went over to Watson’s locker and had a short dialog with the quarterback. When he was performed, Watson smiled at Berry, who gave him a pat on the again earlier than leaving.
In his postgame information convention, Watson instructed reporters he obtained encouraging phrases from Berry and Winston. Watson’s father, in addition to his former Clemson teammate, Diondre Overton, had died earlier that week. It was the primary time Berry had spoken to Watson since.
“It has been a protracted week, and [the team] gave me the chance to return house, however I instructed them I needed to be right here with my guys,” Watson stated. “So it wasn’t even actually about soccer. It was actually simply sort of [Berry’s] first time seeing me over the weekend, sort of, you understand, let me know he is right here with me.”
Watson had one of many worst performances of his profession within the recreation. The 8.4 QBR was the bottom of his profession with not less than 10 passing makes an attempt. (He registered an 8.2 QBR towards the Washington Commanders the following month). Watson was requested afterward whether or not the efficiency shook his confidence.
“Hell no,” he answered. “I will at all times be Deshaun Watson, no matter whoever else says in any other case.”
WATSON HELPED LEAD the Browns to their first — and lone — victory of the season in an 18-13 street win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. His efficiency — 22-of-34 passing for 186 yards and a speeding landing — marked one of many higher video games of his Browns tenure.
“Deshaun received a recreation ball,” Stefanski stated. “I imply, he performed effectively. He helped us win that recreation.”
However six days earlier than the sport, a brand new civil lawsuit was filed in Harris County, Texas, accusing Watson of sexual assault and battery in October 2020, when he was a member of the Texans. The go well with was unrelated to the 2 lawsuits remaining from the ladies who accused Watson of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes.
The NFL opened an investigation into the most recent lawsuit however didn’t put Watson on the commissioner’s exempt record, which allowed him to proceed to play. Watson denied the allegations and stated he didn’t know of the accusations or lawsuit till it surfaced. When requested, Stefanski stated he was not beforehand conscious of the lawsuit both and Watson would proceed to start out.
A month later, legal professionals for either side introduced the dispute had been resolved. On the league’s fall conferences final week, commissioner Roger Goodell stated the league was nonetheless investigating.
DAYS AFTER A 21-15 house loss to the New York Giants in Week 3, Watson confronted scrutiny over a late fourth-and-1 play wherein he missed tight finish Jordan Akins huge open within the flat. Watson appeared to be locked in on one other move catcher, who was lined, and was ultimately sacked. Watson defended the play, saying that Akins was a “decoy” and by no means was speculated to get the ball. Akins, in addition to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, when requested concerning the play, had been tightlipped about whether or not Watson made the proper learn or not.
It was one in every of many instances teammates and coaches declined to criticize or query Watson’s play, whilst metrics and movie advised he was missing really feel within the pocket and lacking targets on routine performs. On a number of events all through the primary half of the season, teammates and coaches pointed to the Browns’ points on offense as a collective drawback, not singularly tied to Watson.
IN A WEEK 4 recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders, cameras caught Watson on the bottom at Allegiant Stadium, yelling and clapping his arms at proper sort out Dawand Jones after a missed block led to a quarterback hit and errant move.
An incensed Winston was additionally held again whereas making an attempt to handle Jones on the sideline. Within the 20-16 street loss, the Browns’ second straight defeat, it was one in every of many miscues that loomed giant. On the play, huge receiver Amari Cooper had damaged free from protection downfield. However with Raiders defensive finish Tyree Wilson given a free path to hurry Watson, the move fell aimlessly alongside the sideline.
All concerned later downplayed the alternate. Jones, a 2023 fourth-round choose who excelled as a rookie earlier than tearing his proper MCL, has struggled this season, and misplaced his beginning spot weeks later.
“Simply making an attempt to be nice, that is it,” Watson stated after the sport. “We simply all received to get on the identical web page, so we are able to execute and attempt to win and be explosive. That was it. All of us knew [the play would have been a touchdown]. We have simply received to execute and be on the identical web page to make these massive performs.”
IN WEEK 5 on the Washington Commanders, Watson left his teammates within the huddle and headed off the sphere as a bewildered Stefanski watched from the sidelines.
The Browns had been making an attempt to beat a 24-3 third-quarter deficit and had moved the ball to the 2-yard line after recovering a fumble.
What adopted was a false-start penalty, a timeout, a sack, a dropped move ultimately zone and a Watson throwaway. Then, with 12 gamers within the huddle on fourth down, the play clock winding down and one other flag looming, Watson made his exit to the sideline.
“We had the fallacious quantity of individuals within the huddle after which at that time, we had been simply going to kick the sphere purpose,” Stefanski defined after a 34-13 loss.
Watson’s efficiency towards the Commanders marked the third time he registered a QBR below 10 since becoming a member of the Browns.
Cooper later defended criticism that Watson was the first motive for the offense’s struggles.
“To be sincere, I do not suppose Deshaun is the issue in any respect,” stated Cooper, who was traded to the Buffalo Payments on Oct. 15. “We are able to all play higher for him.”
The day after the loss, Commanders defensive lineman Jonathan Allen instructed Washington-based radio station 106.7 The Fan that he believed Watson’s confidence had been shaken.
“He appears to be like like a participant who’s had stuff happening above his shoulder,” Allen stated. “There’s positively a confidence factor happening. … I nonetheless suppose he has that potential. I do not know. Soccer is a bizarre recreation. If mentally you are not good up high, you are not going to be assured.”
When requested for a response, Watson stated: “Each time I step on the sphere, I’ve simply received to have the ability to go on the market and play assured soccer and simply go on the market and do my job on the highest capacity. … Once I step on the sphere, I’m assured and I simply wish to go on the market and simply attempt to play the perfect soccer I can play.”
Winston changed Watson for the ultimate drive, and for the primary time all season Stefanski was requested about Watson’s standing because the beginning quarterback. Stefanski stood by Watson, saying he would stay within the lineup. Per week later, he and Dorsey stated Watson gave the Browns the perfect alternative to win.
“This isn’t a one-person problem on offense,” Stefanski stated. “We’ve got the blokes. We’ve got the coaches. We’ll get it mounted.”
ONE DAY AFTER the loss to the Commanders, Stefanski was peppered with questions on who held the authority to bench Watson.
“I make selections for our soccer crew,” Stefanski stated, “however I clearly seek the advice of with Andrew. We speak about every part that goes on with our soccer crew, however in the end it is my resolution.”
Stefanski, although, declined to say if possession had a say in retaining Watson because the starter.
“I would not get into all of the specifics,” Stefanski stated. “I feel you guys know that we make nice selections collectively. I clearly discuss to Andrew about every part we do. We discuss to possession about every part we do. That is simply how we function.”
A number of crew sources instructed ESPN the choice to proceed taking part in Watson was agreed upon all through the group.
However by the following week, Watson appeared out of solutions for the Browns’ issues. He tilted his head, regarded into the gap and paused for a number of seconds when requested how you can appropriate the newest errors within the aftermath of a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“[Me] being the quarterback of this offense with Kevin and Ken, now we have to do one thing just a little bit — I do not know what now we have to do, however we have to do one thing to lock in, so we do not price ourselves any extra video games,” Watson stated. “As a result of we have to actually flip this round.”
AS HE ENTERED Cleveland’s Huntington Financial institution Area forward of the Browns’ Week 7 recreation towards the Bengals, Watson was met by boos from the house crowd, which had been shortly adopted by cheers for working again Nick Chubb, who was making his season debut after sustaining a extreme left knee damage in September 2023.
Ninety minutes later, Watson was in tears as he was being carted off the sphere with the Achilles damage. He ended the sport with a 41 QBR, a season-best mark.
Within the aftermath, a number of followers cheered the damage and booed Watson, which drew rebuke from his teammates.
“We do not boo the blokes which might be injured on the sphere, particularly with the extent the place the cart comes out,” defensive finish Myles Garrett stated. “We must be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as followers to boo anybody and their downfall.”
The long-term way forward for the quarterback place in Cleveland stays murky. This Sunday, Winston will change into the thirty eighth quarterback to start out for the franchise since 2000, most within the league.
The Browns nonetheless owe Watson $46 million in every of the following two seasons. The monetary implications of slicing Watson — a report $172 million lifeless cap hit — would make roster-building in 2025 troublesome.
The day after Watson’s damage, Stefanski averted answering questions on his standing because the starter when wholesome. It was a stark distinction from a coach who simply weeks in the past had championed Watson because the franchise’s most suitable choice at quarterback.
“It is a robust break for him, however I do know he’ll bounce again,” Stefanski stated. “He is been an important contributor to this soccer crew, each within the locker room, on the follow discipline, on the sport discipline, and we’ll simply help him as he rehabs from that damage.”
ESPN senior author Kalyn Kahler contributed to this report.
