Browns GM: Deshaun Watson Re-Injured Achilles During Normal Rehab amid Contract Rumors

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry reaffirmed on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that Deshaun Watson's re-injured Achilles happened during his recovery protocols, despite online speculation that the veteran quarterback may have aggravated the injury in non-sanctioned activities away from the team.

"Unfortunately, he turned his foot (or) ankle that caused the re-tear during the normal stages of the recovery process," Berry told reporters. "I know there's been a lot of speculation and everything out there, but there's nothing nefarious. It's just an unfortunate accident. So our focus is on making sure that he gets healthy and can be back to normal."

Some of that online speculation may have been wishful thinking on the part of Browns' fans, who would have been happy to see the team have a reason to void the remainder of Watson's fully-guaranteed contract.

That pact includes a $46 million base salary and massive $72.9 million cap hits in each of the next two seasons, severely limiting Cleveland's financial flexibility.

Watson originally ruptured his Achilles in late October and re-injured it in early January as he was attempting to be ready for the 2025 season. Speculation quickly followed.

As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com noted, "Social media was abuzz after the re-injury, with widespread speculation that the Browns might try to recoup some or all of the $92 million they still owe him for the final two years of his five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Some websites even showed old videos of Watson on a boat to try to prove their point, and some posted one of him out of his walking boot, which he indicated in an Instagram post on Dec. 26 that doctors had told him he could shed."

Watson's struggles in Cleveland have been well-documented. He was downright bad in 2024 before the injury, throwing for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games while taking a whopping 33 sacks and completing 63.4 percent of his passes. The Browns were 1-6 in those contests.

Since signing his record-setting deal in March 2022, Watson has appeared in just 20 games across three seasons and has thrown 19 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions. Berry confirmed Tuesday that Watson will miss "significant time" in the 2025 season as well. Add it all up, and there's an argument to be made that his five-year, $230 million deal—fully guaranteed—is the worst contract in NFL history.

And unfortunately for Browns' fans, the organization remains stuck with it.