Browns' Watson suffers setback in recovery from torn Achilles

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, general manager Andrew Berry announced Monday.

"We don't have all the details and everything yet, but it will obviously extend the recovery process for him," Berry said. "It is new information, just learned in the past couple hours."

The Browns general manager said the signal-caller alerted staff that something didn't feel right during his exit interview, which led to the discovery of the setback, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.

Berry added that it's "too early to tell" if Watson will play in 2025, per The Athletic's Zac Jackson. The franchise will find out in the near future whether he requires another surgery.

Watson tore his Achilles on Oct. 20 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the year with a 1-6 record and only five touchdowns to three interceptions.

The 29-year-old has been a major disappointment since the Browns traded three first-round picks and two Day 2 selections to the Houston Texans for him in 2022. Watson, who was brought in to lead Cleveland to new heights, has posted a 9-10 record while also completing only 61.2% of his passes for 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

Watson has two seasons remaining on a fully guaranteed five-year, $230-million contract. The Browns reportedly restructured the deal earlier this season to spread his dead cap hit over two years instead of taking it all in 2027 if he remains with the franchise through 2026.