Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will have season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder, the team announced Wednesday. Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, coach Kevin Stefanski said.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Watson suffered the injury in Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens. After the game, he told the medical staff that he felt discomfort in his right shoulder after a hit in the first half.
- An MRI on Monday revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his shoulder. The MRI also showed a high-ankle sprain in his left ankle.
- Doctors determined that Watson needs immediate surgery and expect him to fully recover for the start of the 2024 season.
- Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round rookie, has appeared in three games with one start this season. He and P.J. Walker have split time at quarterback during Watson’s previous absences this season.
What they’re saying
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Wednesday that Watson sustained a new shoulder injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s game and the team is “a little bit unclear” on the exact play it happened.
“Obviously, we are very disappointed and devastated for Deshaun,” Berry said.
Berry added that Watson already had a high ankle sprain before Sunday’s game.
When addressing the Browns’ quarterback situation, Berry said the team will explore all options.
“We’ll always be open-minded but our focus is really on the guys already in the room,” he said.
Watson, who was wearing a protective boot on his left ankle, said, “At halftime, I knew something was wrong but I was just pushing through. … It’s very tough. Make sure I keep my head above water and support the guys as much as I can.”
Browns want to protect Watson long-term
Berry said the Browns and the team doctors “reinforced” to Watson that trying to play through this injury could have negative long-term effects.
Watson has fully guaranteed salary-cap hits of $63.98 million for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The Browns reworked Watson’s deal in March to lower his 2023 cap hit to $19 million, and though they could do that again in early 2024, the contract is fully guaranteed. — Zac Jackson, Browns staff writer
How Watson stacked up
Watson hasn’t been anywhere near as good as the Browns had hoped. The numbers agree with that thought.
Watson ranks 28th in the league in Expected Points Added per dropback, via TruMedia, with a -0.16 rate this season. There were points this season when he ranked last in the league in this category. He’s also 29th with a 61.4 completion percentage.
From Week 13 last season (Watson’s first game with the Browns) until now, he ranks 31st in EPA per dropback rate (-0.15), 29th in completion percentage (59.8) and 27th in passer rating (81.7) among 34 qualified QBs.
It was worse with Walker as the quarterback this season, even though somehow the Browns etched out two wins in the process. Walker possesses a -0.19 EPA rate, 51.3 passer rating and 49.0 percent completion rate.
Browns with and without Watson
| Stat | With Watson | Without Watson |
|---|---|---|
|
Yards per play |
5.1 (NFL rank: T-17) |
4.1 (NFL rank: 31) |
|
Yards per pass attempt |
6.5 (NFL rank: 25) |
5.5 (NFL rank: T-31) |
|
Yards per rush |
4.6 (NFL rank: T-5) |
3.7 (NFL rank: T-26) |
You have to wonder how the Browns stay in the playoff hunt without even a mediocre Watson at quarterback. — Larry Holder, NFL senior writer
Backstory
Watson, who has played in six games this season, suffered a rotator cuff injury in his right shoulder in Week 3 and sat out Weeks 4 and 6. Cleveland had a bye in Week 5.
Watson returned against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. However, he exited that game in the first quarter after having his arm and shoulder examined by trainers, and coach Kevin Stefanski said he was being extra cautious with Watson’s shoulder.
Since then, Watson has played in the Browns’ wins over the Arizona Cardinals and Ravens. He finished the season throwing for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
Thompson-Robinson has thrown for 130 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He is 0-1 as a starter this season, while Walker is 1-1. Walker has logged one touchdown and five interceptions over 98 pass attempts.
Required reading
(Photo: Jessica Rapfogel / USA Today)
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