Browns’ Deshaun Watson To Undergo Achilles Surgery
Out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign due to his Achilles tear, Deshaun Watson‘s attention will soon turn to rehab. The Browns’ starting quarterback is set to undergo surgery in the near future. 
Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is currently giving thought to the ‘speed bridge’ procedure as an alternative to the traditional Achilles repair. In recent years, the new technique has allowed for players to return to practice along a shorter timeline, as evidenced last season by Aaron Rodgers. The procedure (whichever form it ultimately takes) will begin Watson’s process of returning to full health with an eye on the 2025 campaign.
The 29-year-old’s Cleveland tenure has included a number of sub-par performances, but it has also been defined by missed time. Watson was sidelined for the first 11 games of the 2022 season through suspension, and a shoulder injury limited him to only six contests last year. The surgery which shut him down last season was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will likely handle Watson’s upcoming Achilles procedure. Either way, his campaign will be brought to an end after less than seven full games played.
When on the field, Watson has not managed to reclaim his previous form. The three-time Pro Bowler faced massive expectations given the package (including three first-round picks) Cleveland paid to acquire him from the Texans along with the fully-guaranteed contract which convinced him to join the Browns. Another two years remain on that $230MM pact, with $92MM still owed. The team’s consecutive offseason restructures has Watson on track for record-breaking cap hits ($72.94MM) in 2025 and ’26, and any kind of extension to flatten those figures would be difficult to justify given his growing list of injuries and subpar play. For that reason, a trade to get out of the contract would of course be unfeasible.
Cleveland is set to receive a small cap credit next year based on the $13.9MM portion of Watson’s 2024 compensation which is insured (h/t CBS Sports’ Joel Corry). Still, that will offer little reprieve in terms of the issue presented by the pact and Watson’s inability to meet expectations so far. While some of the contract is still insured for next year, Corry notes that is not the case for 2026. Team and player thus have plenty of incentive to avoid any further lengthy absences.
While Watson weighs his options, the Browns will move forward with Dorian Thompson-Robinson (provided he does not require a lengthy stint on the sidelines from the finger injury he suffered yesterday) and Jameis Winston under center. The pecking order between the two switched ahead of Week 7, and it will be interesting to see how it shakes out over the remainder of the season.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Tears Achilles
OCTOBER 21: An MRI confirmed on Monday Watson has, in fact, torn his Achilles (h/t Rapoport). His season is over, and attention will turn toward his Week 1 availability for the 2025 campaign.
OCTOBER 20, 10:00pm: When speaking about Watson’s injury after Cleveland’s loss, Stefanski confirmed the team’s fear is an Achilles tear. Further testing will be needed for confirmation, but in all likelihood Thompson-Robinson (who himself exited the contest due to a finger injury) or Winston will be leaned on for the remainder of the campaign.
2:20pm: Deshaun Watson remained atop the Browns’ quarterback depth chart to begin Week 7, but he has since exited the team’s ongoing contest. Watson suffered a non-contact injury affecting his right leg (video link), and he was carted off the field shortly thereafter.
Watson has since been diagnosed with an Achilles injury, per a team announcement. A tear has not been confirmed yet, but the possibility of that season-ending ailment is obviously high. Cleveland does indeed fear Watson suffered a tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Further testing will be needed to confirm the worst-case scenario, but if that does take place the Browns will be forced to look at other quarterback options. Questions have been raised throughout the year about a change under center with Watson struggling mightily in 2024. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has repeatedly offered endorsements of the blockbuster trade acquisition (and not at the behest of ownership), who remains attached to the five-year, $230MM deal he signed upon arrival. That pact is guaranteed in full, ensuring Watson will remain in place beyond this season.
The former Texans Pro Bowler is owed $92MM over the final two years of his pact, and restructures have left him positioned to carry massive cap hits during that span. Likewise, any decision to cut him would lead to enormous dead money charges, while finding a trade partner would be impossible without sending notable draft capital to an acquiring team. For the time being, attention will turn to his recovery process after a second consecutive season-ending injury.
Watson dealt with a shoulder ailment which limited him to six games last year. Considering he was suspended for the first 11 contests of the 2022 campaign stemming from his sexual misconduct lawsuits, missed time was already a key element of his Browns tenure. Presuming the 29-year-old is indeed facing a torn Achilles, that will be the case to an even greater degree. Given the recovery timeline for such injuries, being healthy in time for the start of the 2025 campaign will likely be a challenge.
In the meantime, newly-promoted backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson will take over. The 2023 fifth-rounder made three starts during his rookie campaign, one during which the Browns cycled through several signal-callers and landed on Joe Flacco as their preferred starter. The veteran did not receive an offer to remain in Cleveland during free agency, however, and he took the Colts’ QB2 gig. Thompson-Robinson saw Tyler Huntley (who was eventually released) and Jameis Winston added to the mix this spring.
Winston has 80 starts to his name, but so far this season he has only attempted a single pass. Thompson-Robinson’s status as backup for today will give him the opportunity to stake a claim to the first-team role for the coming weeks. If he should struggle in that capacity, Winston will be available as an experienced option. Either way, Watson should not be expected to be on the field any time soon.
Raiders To Place QB Aidan O’Connell On IR
Aidan O’Connell‘s time as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2024 has proven to be short-lived. The broken thumb he suffered on Sunday will lead to an extended absence. 
O’Connell is expected to miss four to six weeks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The second-year passer will seek a second opinion on his diagnosis, he adds. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report, meanwhile, that O’Connell is headed to injured reserve.
As a result, the 26-year-old will miss at least the next four games. O’Connell began the year as Vegas’ backup, but veteran free agent addition Gardner Minshew did not live up to expectations. That led to the Raiders’ QB competition re-starting midway through the campaign, with O’Connell taking over in Week 6. He was unable to lead the team to a win in that contest, and he suffered the injury early in Vegas’ loss to the Rams yesterday.
The Raiders now sit at 2-5 on the year, adding further uncertainty to the team’s direction under center moving forward. O’Connell remains attached to his rookie contract through 2026, while Minshew was added on a two-year pact in the spring. The latter’s contract includes guarantees for 2025, but it would still come as no surprise if another pursuit of an upgrade at the position were to take place during the coming offseason. Vegas showed interest in a move up the draft order in April, specifically targeting a reunion between Jayden Daniels and head coach Antonio Pierce. That did not come to pass, as expected, creating the need for the Minshew-O’Connell competition during the summer.
Neither passer was particularly impressive before Minshew’s experience gave him a slight advantage. Despite being replaced, the journeyman will now find himself atop the depth chart for the foreseeable future. Minshew, 28, could stake his claim for the 2025 QB1 gig in Vegas with a strong showing over the coming weeks, although expectations have been lowered for a Raiders offense which no longer features All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. At a minimum, Minshew could increase his value in the eyes of potential offseason suitors.
Undrafted rookie Carter Bradley could be promoted from the practice squad in the wake of today’s news to give Vegas two healthy quarterbacks. If not, the team could be in the market for a temporary addition to serve as Minshew’s backup. As O’Connell turns his attention to recovery, his timeline should allow him to return later in the year.
Eagles’ James Bradberry Making Progress In Rehab, Unsure Of Role When Healthy
James Bradberry has yet to make his season debut, one which will double as his first action since transitioning from corner to safety. The veteran is moving closer to full health, though. 
“I would hope to eventually come back,” Bradberry said (via Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I don’t really know the timeframe right now. It’s a day-by-day process. But it’s definitely getting better week by week.”
Bradberry was mentioned in trade talk leading up to the roster cutdown deadline, but he survived cuts at the end of August. Not long after, however, he was moved to injured reserve upon suffering a leg injury which did not require surgery. The rehab process was expected to take several weeks, and it remains to be seen when Philadelphia will open his 21-day return window.
Whenever Bradberry is back in the fold, he will join an Eagles secondary which added considerably at the cornerback spot during the draft. The team’s first-round pick, Quinyon Mitchell, has served as a full-time starter on the perimeter opposite Darius Slay. Second-round rookie Cooper DeJean, meanwhile, has ascended to the top spot on the depth chart for slot corners. At safety, the activation of Sydney Brown in time for yesterday’s win gave the Eagles another healthy option on the backend.
When asked about what his on-field role will be once he is activated, Bradberry admitted is unsure at this point. The 31-year-old has started each of his 37 combined regular and postseason games with the Eagles over the past two years, but a reduction in workload is expected by all parties moving forward with the team transitioning to younger defensive backs. Bradberry is under contract through 2025, and he is set to carry a $7.82MM cap hit next year.
With none of his 2025 base salary guaranteed, Bradberry could again find himself as a cut or trade candidate next offseason. His value to Philadelphia will depend on his performance once he is brought onto the active roster, something which could take place soon. Bradberry will account for one of the Eagles’ six remaining in-season activations.
Giants Not Benching QB Daniel Jones
Saquon Barkley‘s first game against the Giants turned out to be a comfortable Eagles victory. During the fourth quarter of the lopsided contest, New York elected to replace Daniel Jones with Drew Lock at quarterback. A permanent change at the position is not under consideration, however. 
“I made a change in the fourth quarter when it was 28-3, had about 100 yards, just to create a spark,” head coach Brian Daboll said when speaking to the media after the game (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “Daniel will be the quarterback going forward. But obviously we didn’t do enough offensively.”
Jones completed 14 of 21 passes for 99 scoreless yards on Sunday, adding 20 yards on five rushes. He avoided any turnovers, but as a whole New York’s offense (which will be without left tackle Andrew Thomas for the rest of the season) continued to struggle. The team has managed only one touchdown in four home contests this year, further indication that Jones will not develop as hoped in 2024. For now, at least, the former No. 6 pick is safe atop the depth chart.
“The score didn’t get out of hand,” Daboll added. “I felt we had some chances there to make some plays, just didn’t make them, wasn’t going to take him out then. It’s all the way around, not just quarterback — coaching, everything just wasn’t good enough.”
Of course, Jones’ four-year, $160MM pact has been a major talking point since it was signed. Retaining the 27-year-old was coupled with the decision to tag Barkley last offseason; the latter departed in free agency after talks on a new Giants pact were unsuccessful. Jones’ $40MM AAV has been surpassed by several recent quarterback mega-deals, but it would be a stretch to say he has lived up to expectations so far. Questions loomed about his post-2024 future ahead of the campaign, one in which the Giants now sit at 2-5.
Jones’ contract includes a $23MM injury guarantee for next season, leading to speculation New York could bench him at some point during the year and ensure he remains healthy. If that were to take place, Lock would handle QB1 duties before a serious push to add at the quarterback spot during the offseason. The Giants aggressively pursued a move up the draft board in April to land one of the draft’s top passers, a sign of how they view Jones’ upside. Doing the same in 2025 would come as no surprise at this point, but for the time being Jones will continue operating as the team’s starter.
NFLPA Files Grievance Over Haason Reddick’s Preseason Jets Fines
Haason Reddick‘s Jets holdout has come to an end, with team and player agreeing to a deal. It remains to be seen at this point how the financial components of the revised pact will shake out vis-à-vis the multitude of penalties Reddick accumulated before today’s news. 
One point of contention is the money Reddick lost during the preseason. His decision to avoid reporting to the Jets allowed the team to fine him the value of one regular season game check (just under $792K) for each exhibition game missed. As a result, $2.38MM in fines were accumulated, although it is unsettled with respect to if it will be paid out.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the NFLPA had already filed a grievance over the preseason fines in question prior to today’s Reddick news. The union’s argument is that Reddick signed his contract to join the Eagles before eventually being traded to the Jets, differentiating his situation from holdouts affecting a player’s original contracted team. The same could be argued as it pertains to the $2MM in fines Reddick racked up by remaining absent from training camp, although as Florio notes those penalties are not currently at issue.
A separate Florio piece adds that the Jets are prepared to waive the fines for Reddick’s preseason absence if the NFL and NFLPA can reach an agreement regarding whether or not it is possible for that to take place. Of course, the missed game checks from his regular season absences comprise a much larger penalty, and it will be interesting to see how exactly the revised accord between team and player works out. Once the full details of the pact are known, further clarity will arise based on what Reddick’s earning potential for 2024 is as he prepares to report to the team. Crucially, the two-time Pro Bowler will remain on track for free agency regardless of what happens regarding his Jets penalties.
Steelers’ Decision To Start Russell Wilson Was Not Unanimous?
Russell Wilson will make his regular season Steelers debut tonight, having fully recovered from his calf injury. The move to place him atop the quarterback depth chart came after Justin Fields helped guide the team to a 4-2 record, and it does not appear to have been the preference of some staff members. 
When speaking with Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, head coach Mike Tomlin noted he acted alone in tapping Wilson as Pittsburgh’s starter (video link). QB decisions are, of course, the purview of a head coach but they come amongst consultation with other members of the offensive coaching staff. Tomlin acknowledged he will solely bear the responsibility of the Wilson decision should it not work out, an indication of the support Fields has in the organization.
The former Bears first-rounder received extra first-team reps in training camp once Wilson was injured, and as the only healthy member of the pair in September he did not face competition for the starting gig. Wilson returned to practice recently, and after a full week handling reps with the first-team offense signs pointed to him getting the nod. Attached to a one-year deal, Wilson entered the offseason atop the depth chart but Fields’ performances in camp and the preseason earned him favor amongst Pittsburgh’s decision-makers.
Indeed, a report from earlier this month noted Fields did not appear to be in immediate danger of losing his starting gig. The 25-year-old helped guide Pittsburgh to a strong showing in the running game during his time at the helm, but the team entered Week 7 ranked just 28th in passing production and 20th overall in scoring. Wilson will be tasked with improving on those totals, although the door is open to Fields seeing some playing time in spite of his demotion.
The Steelers will host the Jets to close out Sunday’s action, and one of the team’s key storylines will be Wilson’s play during his first contest since his ill-fated Broncos tenure came to a close. If the former Seahawks Super Bowl winner struggles, calls from inside and outside the building will no doubt grow for Tomlin to reverse his decision.
Browns’ Za’Darius Smith Addresses Trade Possibilities, Potential Lions Acquisition
OCTOBER 20: Adding more substance to the Lions-Smith speculation, ESPN’s Adam Schefter hears from league sources that Detroit could indeed be interested in acquiring the accomplished pass rusher prior to the deadline. Cleveland would prefer to retain Smith and his thru-2025 contract, but the club is expected to listen to offers.
OCTOBER 18: The Browns have traded away Amari Cooper, a sign the 1-5 team could continue to sell leading up to the trade deadline. If that proves true, edge rusher Za’Darius Smith could soon be on the move. 
The veteran served as a full-time starter last year, his debut campaign in Cleveland. Smith posted only 5.5 sacks – his fewest during a healthy season since 2017 – but he managed to land an extended look with the Browns in the offseason. Team and player agreed to a two-year, $23MM deal in March which prevented him from testing the open market. Things have not gone according to plan in 2024, however.
The Browns’ offense has struggled mightily with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, but the team has also failed to live up to expectations on defense so far. In terms of pass rush production, Cleveland sits 14th in the NFL with 15 sacks; Smith has accounted for three of those while adding four pressures and two tackles for loss. The three-time Pro Bowler’s base salary for this year is just $1.2MM (a prorated portion of which would be taken on by an acquiring team) and none of his base compensation for next year is guaranteed.
“You know what, that’s not my decision. That’s all upstairs,” Smith said when asked about the possibility of a trade (via Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram). “I would rather you ask them to see what that would be… I’m staying positive, but now that you say that, [getting traded] might be a good look, a good feel for me.”
Smith’s 10-year career has seen him suit up for four different teams, including stints with the Packers and Vikings. A deal sending him to the Lions would allow for a return to the NFC North, and it would help fill the void created by Aidan Hutchinson‘s broken leg. No firm links have emerged between Smith and Detroit, but he would apparently welcome the opportunity to finish the season in the Motor City.
“Hate that injury happened to him, a guy that was on his way to get Defensive Player of the Year possibly,” the former fourth-rounder said of Hutchinson. “That’s a big loss for them. But if I was to go to Detroit, I would like it, because I get to play Green Bay twice a year and the Vikings twice a year. So, yeah, that’ll be big.”
The Lions could certainly use help along the edge with both Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport out of the picture. The team has, to no surprise, showed at least some interest in Haason Reddick as his new representation seeks to bring an end to his Jets holdout. Adding Reddick will require some kind of contractual commitment unless he changes his stance and elects to play out the remainder of his existing deal (either in New York or as a member of a new team) and in doing so puts himself on track for free agency.
Other edge rushers could be on the trade market, though, including Smith. Given his remarks, he would certainly welcome a move sending him to the Lions. It will be worth watching closely to see if that sentiment is reciprocated, or if other teams show interest in adding him before the November 5 deadline.
Rams’ Cooper Kupp Drawing Trade Interest
Two high-profile receiver trades took place this week, and Davante Adams and Amari Cooper are now off the market. Several other options at that position represent targets for contending teams, though, and Cooper Kupp is one of them. 
The Adams and Cooper deals generated increased communication amongst teams for other potential trades, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network details. Among the teams receiving calls were the Rams, with contenders eyeing Kupp as a possible mid-season acquisition. It remains to be seen how interested Los Angeles will be in considering any deal sending the All-Pro to a new team for the first time in his career, but it is certainly noteworthy that suitors are gauging his market.
Kupp has been a focal point in the Rams’ passing game throughout his eight-year career, one which of course reached its peak in 2021. That Triple Crown-winning campaign saw him post 145 receptions, 1,947 yards 16 touchdowns en route to Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP honors. Injuries have been an issue since then, however, and Kupp has been sidelined since Week 2 of the current campaign with an ankle injury. The Rams expect to have him back on Sunday.
Especially with 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Puka Nacua still out of the picture, having Kupp available for Los Angeles will provide a major boost on offense. With the team sitting at 1-4 on the year, improved performance in all areas will be needed for a postseason berth to be possible in 2024. Further losses ahead of the November 5 trade deadline could steer the Rams toward a seller’s standpoint, although even in that case moving Kupp would not be a simple process.
The 31-year-old remains attached to the extension he landed in June 2022. That pact leaves him on the books through 2026, a stark contrast to the situation for many other players (generally pending free agents) who get moved during the season. Kupp is due $20MM next year, including a $7.5MM roster bonus to be paid out in March; $5MM of the latter figure became guaranteed this past offseason. He is set to carry a $29.78MM cap hit in 2025, and that will drop to $27.33MM the following year (during which none of his base salary is guaranteed). Any acquiring team would no doubt engage in a restructure in the event Kupp were to be dealt.
The Rams’ 2024 offseason saw Aaron Donald retire, leaving them without a foundational defender. Quarterback Matthew Stafford – who, along with Kupp, remains an offensive pillar – faced questions about his future before a restructured contract was worked out. At the age of 36, though, it would not come as a surprise if Loa Angeles were to explore a succession plan soon at the quarterback spot. Committing to a youth movement would make a Kupp trade more feasible from the Rams’ perspective, but they would no doubt command a heavy price to consider one.
Even without Adams or Cooper available anymore, the likes of Christian Kirk, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Williams, Diontae Johnson and Darius Slayton have been connected to trade talk (to one extent or another) recently. Any or all of those could be targeted by contending teams, but Kupp is on the radar of potential buyers as well. His situation will be worth watching closely.
Panthers Activate CB Dane Jackson
A key member of the Panthers’ secondary is set to make his Carolina debut tomorrow. Dane Jackson was activated from injured reserve Saturday, the team announced. 
A hamstring injury meant Jackson would not be healthy in time for the start of the season. Carolina was one of many teams which elected to use the IR-designated for return path created this year in his case, avoiding the need to name him to the initial roster while using one of the eight allocated in-season activations. Jackson returned to practice on October 2, so Carolina could have waited until after Week 7 to being in into the fold.
Instead, this move paves the way for the free agent pickup to suit up on Sunday against the Commanders. Jackson played out his rookie contract with the Bills, making 28 starts amongst his 52 appearances. His most productive season came in 2022, when he posted a pair of interceptions along with 12 pass deflections and 57 tackles. As Buffalo underwent a number of changes in the secondary this offseason, though, the 27-year-old departed in free agency.
Jackson inked a two-year, $8.5MM deal including $5.13MM guaranteed to join the Panthers. That pact set him up to handle a first-team role opposite Jaycee Horn, but his debut with the team was delayed due to the injury. Now that he is healthy, Jackson will be tasked with aiding a defense which ranks last in scoring and sits 23rd against the pass. The team moved on from veteran slot man Troy Hill earlier in the week, paving the way for younger options to see playing time on the inside.
That decision, coupled with Jackson’s activation, could spark improved play in the secondary for the 1-5 Panthers. Part of the former seventh-rounder’s 2025 compensation is already locked in, so a poor showing over the coming months would not stand to threaten his roster security. Strong play could, however, make him a key member of at least the team’s short-term plans moving forward.