BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fracture in his throwing shoulder, sidelining their franchise quarterback once again.
According to a team statement Wednesday, an MRI performed Monday revealed that Watson had a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right shoulder. Team doctors determined that Watson needed immediate surgery to avoid further structural damage.
Watson, who will be placed on injured reserve, is expected to be back for the start of the 2024 season.
General manager Andrew Berry said Wednesday that Watson's fracture was unrelated to the rotator cuff strain that forced Watson to miss four games earlier this season.
"We are very disappointed and devastated for Deshaun, especially given all that he has battled and gone through medically this season," Berry said. "We look at this as an incredible challenge and opportunity for our organization."
Berry said there was a "pretty clear medical recommendation" for Watson to have surgery, as the injury could have been made worse by trying to continue throwing passes.
Watson had returned two weeks ago against the Arizona Cardinals. On Sunday, he played arguably his best game in a Browns uniform, leading Cleveland on a game-winning field goal drive to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 33-31.
According to the Browns, Watson suffered the shoulder fracture during the first half against the Ravens, though he finished the game before telling the team's medical staff about shoulder discomfort that led to the MRI. Another MRI also found that Watson suffered a left high ankle sprain during the contest.
Berry praised Watson for staying on the field against the Ravens, calling it an "incredible display of physical toughness" as the quarterback went 14-for-14 in the second half.
PJ Walker is Cleveland's backup quarterback, though the Browns also have rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson on their roster. Walker has thrown for 618 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions over five games (two starts) this season, while Thompson-Robinson has 130 passing yards as well as three interceptions that he threw against the Ravens in Week 4 while starting in place of Watson.
Berry said the Browns would look to sign another quarterback, which would give them a third possible option.
The Browns face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in a key AFC North matchup. Both teams are 6-3 and a half-game behind the first-place Ravens (7-3) in the division.
Cleveland had opened as a four-point favorite against Pittsburgh at ESPN BET prior to the announcement of Watson's injury. The Browns were a 2.5-point favorite as of Wednesday morning, and the game's total had dropped from 37.5 to 34.5, which would match the lowest of the 2023 season (Jets-Giants, Week 8).
The Browns' odds to win the Super Bowl have fallen from 25-1 to 50-1.