Deshaun Watson’s new Achilles injury potentially threatens $92 million

Running back Deshaun Watson’s second Achilles tear could give the Browns their last and best chance to avoid the remaining $92 million owed on his fully guaranteed five-year contract.

The primary question is whether he re-torn the hamstring doing something his contract specifically prevents him from doing, under the clauses that guarantee his $46 million salary in 2025 and $46 million salary in 2026.

According to his contract, warranties are voided if Watson is injured “as a result of skydiving, hang gliding, rock or mountain climbing, racing of any kind, including as a driver or passenger, riding a motorcycle, operating any off-road or all-terrain vehicle , professional wrestling, boxing, firearms, scuba diving, jet skiing, surfing, bungee jumping, basketball, scuba diving, and snow or water skiing.”

A team announcement on Watson’s re-injury says he rolled his ankle in Miami. If he rolled his ankle doing any of the things he’s specifically prohibited from doing, and the injury happened because of it, the Browns have a way to avoid $92 million.

Even if the Browns can’t prove that Watson was involved in the activities that led to his warrants being revoked, recent pictures on social networks show him without a boot. Given the difficulty of rolling the ankle while in a walking boot, it is possible that he was not wearing a boot when he should have been wearing a boot. If the rehab protocols specified required him to wear boots, that could be another way to void guarantees.

For the Browns, here’s the question: Do they want to play hardball with Watson? If they do, the first step is to fully investigate what he was doing when he rolled his ankle. The second step is to assess whether he rolled his ankle while not wearing a walking boot when he might have needed to.

With $92 million on the line, and given that the deal has been a disaster for the Browns thus far, why not explore every possible strategy to legitimately avoid the commitment? And, since they’re hiring a chief strategy officer, wouldn’t it be Paul DePodesta’s job to devise a way to avoid $92 million in cash and a commitment to a player they’d undoubtedly cut if they could?

Given the size of the remaining payments, a legal battle would be inevitable if the Browns tried to cut Watson. And that opens the door to a settlement, with reduced guarantees and/or reduced pay. Watson would have to decide whether to risk all or nothing on the complaint — or manage the risk of losing by accepting less than what he’s owed.

However it plays out, the Browns specifically stating that Watson rolled his ankle in Miami becomes a strong hint that they are considering their options. As they should be.

Time will tell what they will do. Based on the facts developed during the team’s investigation into how, where and when the ankle was rolled, the Browns could get out of the worst contract in NFL history.