Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered what appeared to be a torn Achilles against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Fans in attendance at Huntington Bank Field booed Watson during the pregame introductions and cheered as he went down from the non-contact injury.
Watson appeared to suffer a non-contact Achilles tear against the BengalsGetty
Some even reportedly chanted “you deserved it” as he was carted off he field in tears with what’s expected to be a season-ending injury.
Watson is one of the most polarizing figures in the NFL, but Browns teammates Jameis Winston and Myles Garrett leaped to his defence in light of the boos.
“The way I was raised, I was taught to love. No matter the circumstances,” Winston said in a passionate locker room interview after the game.
“Especially for people who do right by you. I am very upset to the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years. And he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day.
“Regardless of your perception. Regardless of what you thought should have happened with him, he committed every single day that I’ve been here to be the best that he can be for this team.
“The way I was raised, I would never pull a man when he’s down. But I will be the person to lift him up.”
Superstar defensive end Garrett said the fans who booed Watson should be “ashamed” for booing an injured quarterback.
“We don’t boo guys that are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out,” Garrett said after the game.
“We should be ashamed of ourselves, as Browns and as fans, to boo anyone in their downfall. To be season-altering, career-altering injury, the man’s not perfect, he doesn’t need to be. None of us expect to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does on the field or off the field because I can’t throw stones from my glass house, but we need to do better.”
“Man does pretty much everything right. He’s been a model citizen through college and also the pros,” Garrett added.
Winston delivered a powerful locker room speech defending WatsonX@NFL_DovKleiman
Garrett said some fans should be “ashamed”X@ceasterlingABJ
“We can’t look down on the guy because of any mistakes on the field, or anything off the field. We don’t have any moral high ground to look down on the guy.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski echoed Garrett’s words about the crowd, telling reporters, “I don’t think it’s ever OK to cheer when someone’s injured.
“I’m sure it’s not every person in the building doing that, but yeah, it’s disappointing.”
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, a Northeast Ohio native who still supports the Browns, took to X to criticize Cleveland fans for reacting the way they did to Watson’s injury.
“Cleveland Fans!” James wrote. “Yall know how much we’ve been thru throughout the years both good, bad and indifferent. With that being said booing anyone that’s down with an injury let alone your own player is LAME [expletive]!!”
LeBron criticized Browns fans for cheering Watson’s injuryGetty
Watson was 15 of 17 for 128 yards before his injury, which came in a 14-21 loss to the Bengals.
The 29-year-old, who signed a five-year contract worth $230 million with Cleveland in 2022, has done to little to endear himself to fans over the years.
The three-time Pro Bowler was accused of sexual misconduct and harassment by more than 20 women when he was a member of the Houston Texans in 2021. He has always denied any wrongdoing, and 20 claims of sexual misconduct have been settled out of court.
He was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million by the NFL.
In September, a civil lawsuit was filed accusing Watson of sexual assault and battery in October 2020, while playing for the Texans — allegations which he strongly denies.
He also missed half of last season due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, and has only played in 18 of a possible 40 games as of Sunday.
Over the first seven games of the season, Watson threw for 1,020 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
His latest injury setback saw the now 1-6 Browns turn to Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center and then Winston.
Watson now finds himself sidelined for the foreseeable future as his massive contract continues to look worse with every passing week.
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