Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered what is believed to be a torn Achilles during Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed after the game that Watson tore his Achilles and will likely be out for the rest of the season.
While he was down on the field, the home crowd booed Watson before he was carted off the field because of the injury. They previously booed him as he came onto the field before the game began. The boos did not sit right with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who said the fans should be “ashamed” for booing an injured quarterback.
“We don’t boo guys that are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out,” Garrett said after the game. “We should be ashamed of ourselves, as Browns and as fans, to boo anyone in their downfall. To be season-altering, career-altering injury, the man’s not perfect, he doesn’t need to be. None of us expect to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does on the field or off the field because I can’t throw stones from my glass house, but we need to do better.”
Myles Garrett clearly upset with fans booing Deshaun Watson’s injury. Said Watson “does pretty much everything right. He’s been a model citizen through college and most of the pros.” pic.twitter.com/gElBYyI2Ym
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 20, 2024
“Man does pretty much everything right. He’s been a model citizen through college and also the pros,” Garrett said. “We can’t look down on the guy because of any mistakes on the field, or anything off the field. We don’t have any moral high ground to look down on the guy.”
Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Two members of the Cleveland Browns came to the defense of Deshaun Watson’s Achilles injury as fans were seen celebrating.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston also passionately stuck up for Watson after the game, saying his intent to support Winston through his injury.
“I am grateful that I had a chance to serve Deshaun, but I am very upset with the reaction to a man that’s had the world against him for the past four years,” Winston told reporters after the game. “And he put his body and life on the line for this city, every single day. Regardless of your perception, regardless of what you thought should happen with him, he committed every single day that I’ve been here to be the best that he can be for this team.”
The “world” has largely been “against” Watson after he was accused of sexual misconduct by over 20 women in 2021. Watson did not play during the 2021 NFL season, and was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 NFL season and fined $5 million by the NFL.
Despite the allegations against Watson, the Browns opted to trade three first-round picks to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal.
Since joining the Browns, Watson has been a disappointment, whether it’s dealing with multiple injuries or performing poorly on the field when he is available. Over the first seven games of the season, Watson threw for 1,020 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Now, it appears that Watson’s season is over. Over the course of three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has only played in 18 of a possible 40 games as of Sunday.
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