CLEVELAND — Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson underwent surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles to repair a broken right shoulder, an injury that ended his second season in Cleveland after just nine games.
Watson was already suffering from a strained right rotator cuff when he fractured his throwing shoulder in the first half against Baltimore on November 12.
The Browns said shoulder specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery to repair Watson’s displaced right glenoid fracture.
The 28-year-old will begin rehab later this week and the team expects Watson to be fully recovered “before the start of the 2024 season.”
Watson has played in just 12 of a possible 34 games since the Browns acquired him last season and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
He was suspended by the NFL for 11 games in 2022 for violating conduct rules after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and harassment.
Despite suffering a broken shoulder, Watson remained in the game against the Ravens while also dealing with a sprained left ankle.
He completed all 14 pass attempts in the second half and led the Browns to a 33-31 victory.
After Watson lost following his best win since arriving in Cleveland, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson started Sunday against Pittsburgh.
The fifth-round pick completed four passes in 1:18 of the final and set up Dustin Hopkins’ game-winning field goal as the Browns beat the Steelers 13-10. Coach Kevin Stefanski will start Thompson-Robinson again this week in Denver, but the Browns signed veteran Joe Flacco on Monday.
The 38-year-old Flacco, who threw for 42,320 yards and 232 touchdowns in 15 NFL seasons, is on the practice squad but is expected to be added to the active roster soon.
