Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s 2023 season is over.
Watson will undergo surgery to repair a broken bone in his throwing shoulder, the team announced Wednesday, after he told the Browns’ medical staff of new discomfort he suffered in Cleveland’s Week 10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Deshaun Watson will undergo season-ending surgery on a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. pic.twitter.com/W79ku2xzND
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 15, 2023
The injury, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is a displaced fracture in his right glenoid in his shoulder, Watson reportedly suffered it in the first quarter of Week 10 but still finished the game. He will reportedly have the surgery next Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.
This means Watson will have played in only six regular-season games for the Browns for the second consecutive season since Cleveland acquired him from the Houston Texans and paid him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
Watson finishes the season with almost the same stat line as his 2022 campaign: 1,115 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and four interceptions with a 61.4 percent completion rate. He also rushed 26 times for 142 yards and one touchdown.
P.J. Walker will likely step into the starting quarterback role for the remaining of the season. He’s gone 1-1 as a starter with 618 passing yards for one touchdown and five interceptions with a completion rate of 49.0 percent.
The loss of Watson is an obvious downgrade for the 6-3 Browns, who are the cusp of at least a wild-card berth. Cleveland even has a shot at the AFC North after its comeback win over the Ravens. But without Watson, that journey gets tougher – especially with the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on deck in Week 11.
Injuries have plagued the Browns all season. Offensive tackle Jack Conklin tore his ACL in Week 1, running back Nick Chubb was lost for the season with a severe knee injury in Week 2 and offensive tackle Jedrick Willis was placed on injured reserve after Week 9. Add Watson to the list, and the Browns are down five key offensive starters in what has otherwise been a successful season.
