Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson to undergo season-ending surgery
The Cleveland Browns lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Watson suffered an injury to his throwing arm in the second quarter of a Week 10 return win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Watson also sprained his left ankle but ended the game with two serious injuries. Reporters spotted Watson leaving M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore wearing a walking boot.
An MRI revealed a displaced glenoid fracture in Watson's right shoulder. Imaging also showed Watson suffered a severe ankle sprain.
Watson hopes to overcome a painful shoulder injury and help the Browns contend for a division title and a playoff spot. But team doctors convinced Watson to undergo surgery because a strong blow could shatter his shoulder.
Since being traded to the Browns in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans, Watson has gone 8-4 as a starter, including 5-1 this season.
Watson is completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He rushed for 142 yards and another touchdown. He threw seven interceptions and was sacked 17 times.
The Browns lost starting running back Nick Chubb in his second game of the season to a torn ACL. Offensive tackle Jack Conklin also went on injured reserve with a knee injury.
6-3 Browns DTR or PJ
The Browns are 1-2 on the season with either rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson or veteran P.J. Walker starting games at quarterback.
Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA, started the season as the backup behind Watson. When Watson injured his shoulder in Week 3, Thompson-Robinson was named the starter in Week 4. Thompson-Robinson struggled in the team's 28-3 loss to the Ravens, throwing three interceptions and being sacked four times.
The Browns lacked confidence in Thompson-Robinson after his only start, so they signed Walker, who went on to go 1-1 as a starter that season. Walker also played most of the Week 7 win over the Indianapolis Colts when Watson was benched in the first quarter.
Walker is completing 49 percent of his passes for 618 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions this season.
The Browns now regret their decision to trade backup quarterback Josh Dobbs. The Arizona Cardinals acquired Dobbs from the Browns at the end of the preseason. Dobbs starts for the Cardinals while Kyler Murray is still recovering from a knee injury.
When the Minnesota Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury, the Cardinals traded Dobbs to the Vikings at the Halloween trade deadline. The Vikings have won their last two games with Dubs and remain in playoff contention in the NFC.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, the Browns named Thompson Robinson their Week 11 starter.
Browns compete for "Smashmouth" title
AFC North is known as the most physically active division in the NFL, which is why it has earned the title "Smashmouth Football."
Entering Week 11, all four teams in the AFC North have won. The AFC North is trying to become the first conference to send all four teams to the playoffs by claiming all three AFC Wild Card berths.
If the season ended today, the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) would clinch the division title and secure the AFC's No. 2 seed. The Browns (6-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) will advance to the playoffs as wild-card teams, but the Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) will miss out.
The Bengals are currently in the bubble, with the Houston Texans (5-4) locking up the AFC's final wild-card spot.
According to Upshot's playoff projections, the Browns have an 84% chance of making the playoffs. The Steelers have a 61% chance of making the playoffs, while the Bengals have a 44% chance.
Upshot also projects the Ravens to have a 43% chance of winning the AFC North. The Ravens are the favorite to win the division, ahead of the Browns (31%), Steelers (18%) and Bengals (8%).
How Watson’s injury could change the future
News of Watson's season-ending shoulder surgery had an immediate impact on futures markets. The Browns now have a +5,000 chance to win Super Bowl XVIII, but their chances at the start of the week were +4,000.
After Week 1, the Browns' Super Bowl odds are +1800, their highest ever. Last season, their title chances were +3500.
The Browns’ AFC title odds also dropped slightly. They now have a +2000 chance to win the division and clinch a Super Bowl berth.
The Ravens are the favorite to win the AFC North at -115. The Bengals are at +400, followed by the Steelers at +425, and the Browns at +450. Before Watson's injury was officially announced, the Browns were ranked second at +375.
The Browns have a -250 chance of making the playoffs and a +200 chance of missing the playoffs. According to a recent update from DraftKings.
Heading into Week 11, the Browns were -3.5 against the Steelers. Oddsmakers made an injury correction after the Watson news broke. Assuming Walker starts, the scoreline moves to -2. When the Browns named Thompson Robinson the starter in Week 11, the line moved a full point again, but they were still -1 favorites over the Steelers.
The Steelers are 6-3 ATS, while the Browns are 5-3-1 ATS.
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