Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning with a couple of posts that foreshadowed injury news that was about to break.
The first was a prayer, in which he thanked God for fulfilling a promise in Watson’s life.
“Thank you that I too can say, ‘God, give me this mountain,'” Watson wrote. “I declare that every giant, every obstacle that stands in the way, will be conquered.”
The second was a photo of a daily calendar for November 15 with an inspirational message, which Watson captioned, “More Glory!”
“When your plans get derailed,” the calendar read, “there is only one who can offer you a firm foundation for whatever is ahead.”
For Browns fans, neither post was a good sign. Sure enough, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted a little over an hour later that Watson will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery to repair a broken bone. The Browns announced Watson’s status at exactly the same time.
Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images
For Browns fans riding high after a big win over the Baltimore Ravens, the news was a difficult blow.
One user tweeted a meme from The Princess Bride: “Where were we? Oh yes, the Pit of Despair.”
Another user tied in current events with a photo of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold Tuesday evening with the caption, “God whenever something positive finally happens for the Cleveland Browns.”
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, meanwhile, shed a little more light on the injury, saying that Watson wanted to get shots in his shoulder and play through the issue.
“But doctors were clear: if he got hit again in the same spot, the shoulder could fall apart,” Pelissero wrote. “Now surgery awaits and his 2023 season is over.”
Browns GM Andrew Berry later confirmed Pelissero’s report.
Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho noted that Watson “went 14-14 in the second half [against the Ravens], including a game-winning drive, vs. the #1 defense in the NFL. All while playing with a high ankle sprain *and* a broken shoulder.”
Watson is not exactly a beloved figure in NFL circles, however. More than two dozen women accused Watson of actions that range from harassment to sexual assault in 2022, and while he never faced criminal charges, the NFL suspended him for 11 games.
For that reason, Watson (and the Browns) didn’t seem to garner as much sympathy from opposing fans as others.
“I feel bad when any other team loses their starting QB,” one user posted. “I felt bad when the Browns lost Nick Chubb. Deshaun Watson is a scumbag and the Browns knowingly gave him the biggest guaranteed money deal in NFL history. They made a deal with the devil. You reap what you sow.”
The Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The options to replace Watson before Sunday’s game might leave some fans underwhelmed.
“I don’t really want to watch PJ Walker man,” one wrote.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.