Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was taken off the field on a cart during Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering an Achilles injury.
Late in the second quarter, Watson dropped back to pass and took a step on his right foot when something appeared to go wrong in his leg. He immediately fell to the ground, signaling to trainers, who quickly came to his aid. A cart was brought out, and Watson was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
By the third quarter, the Browns announced that Watson had been ruled out for the remainder of the game with an Achilles injury, raising concerns that his season might be over based on the nature of the injury and the visible signs of distress when it occurred.
Before leaving the game, Watson had completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards. Despite his solid performance on the day, the Browns’ offense has struggled overall this season, with Watson posting one of the lowest total quarterback ratings (QBR) through the first six games. The team also ranks last in the league in total yards per game.
With Watson sidelined, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped in as the backup quarterback, having been elevated to the QB2 role ahead of Sunday’s game. Whether Thompson-Robinson will remain the starting option moving forward is yet to be determined, as the Browns also have veteran Jameis Winston available as a potential option.