For many NFL teams, the 2024 season has been a catastrophe, and Deshaun Watson‘s Cleveland Browns are no exception to it. The franchise, which had three playoff appearances (and nothing more than that!), registered a 3-14 win-loss record, ranking last in the AFC North. And it would not be an out-of-the-blue statement if anyone says the Browns were nothing but cursed this season.

They lost a good quarterback in the week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, and a Friday update on Deshaun Watson’s injury shook Cleveland. The quarterback had initially torn the right Achilles during on Oct 20 game and had gone through surgery also on 25th October. But last, when he started feeling pain in the same foot, he immediately went for an evaluation. And you know what MRI showed? He has broken his right Achilles again. As per the update regarding his injury status, “Watson’s recovery time and return to play status is uncertain, and he will likely miss significant time during the 2025 season.” The horrifying thing is this current update can turn into a career-ending injury.

Deshaun had played only seven out of 17 games of the regular season, which were decent and people can understand it. But what franchises and fans won’t tolerate is his surprising stats. The last game he played on October 20, he scored zero touchdowns. Even before that game, he started against the Eagles and ended with zero touchdowns with a 69.6 completion percentage. Man! That’s stocking! Overall, Watson landed only five touchdowns this season.

The Browns No. 4 had signed a massive deal with the organization which will be under scrutiny. Do you know how much was his signing amount in 2022? It was a staggering $230,000,000 extension for five years. The deal was so magnanimous that if his career ends here, the Browns will have to face a massive cap hit.

Now, rumors are making circles on social media. And the one making rounds is that the team is looking for Deshaun Watson’s replacement, which can be true to some extent. But with whom?

Justin Fields to replace Deshaun Watson?

The offseason has already started for the Cleveland Browns after a dead season. The first they would be doing after two months is desperately looking for a quarterback. As doctors have suggested, Deshaun may not return for the full 2025 season. So, the free agency market would open in two months. And experts are saying that among many free agents, Justin Fields would be a great deal for the Browns.

Justin Fields is currently a backup quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and he is a free agent. The Bears would also look for him as a quarterback, but that’s another story. But the backup quarterback of the Steelers has played six games this season before Russell Wilson started. Fields has scored five touchdowns in 10 games, thrown one interception, and achieved a 65.8 completion percentage after completing 106 passes out of 161 attempts. So, he can be a deal for the Browns.

The next season will start for the Browns in September 2025, but Deshaun Watson will not. God knows from which pain he is going through, but if the injury gets recovered in a year, the quarterback should make a comeback!