Browns QB Deshaun Watson suffers a hamstring injury in the 21-14 loss to Joe Burrow and the Bengals

CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a possible season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the first half of Cleveland's 21-14 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday as Joe Burrow earned its first road win against the Bengals' AFC North rival. won.

Watson's leg collapsed on a non-contact play as he dropped back to pass with 1:26 left before halftime. While planting, Watson's calf appeared to tremble before giving up and falling onto the grass.

The ailing Watson, whose tenure with Cleveland was marked by off-field problems, injuries and poor play, covered his head with a towel as he was carried off the field. While he was on the ground, players from both teams came from the sidelines, surrounded him and offered him support.

The Browns only announced that Watson had injured his Achilles tendon, but gave no further details. There's a strong chance he won't play again this season, and it's possible Watson's days with Cleveland are over.

Burrow threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter as the Bengals (3-4) ended a six-game losing streak in Cleveland. While he has played well against every team in the NFL, Burrow struggled against the Browns, going 1-5 overall and 0-3 on the road.

Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for an 18-yard TD and Tee Higgins for a 25-yard score six minutes later. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 181 yards.

Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022 after the Browns (1-6) traded three first-round draft picks to Houston for him.

He was suspended for the first 11 games of '22 for violating the league's code of conduct after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault during massage therapy sessions.

Watson made six starts and showed glimpses of his Pro Bowl days with the Texans last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

The 29-year-old has played poorly for most of this season, but the Browns have stuck with it.

Before he was injured, Watson was 15 of 17 for 128 yards. He was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was ahead of Jameis Winston on the depth chart this week. Thompson-Robinson finished 11 of 24 for 82 yards and two interceptions before exiting with a finger injury.

Winston played the final 3:43, throwing a TD pass to David Njoku and a 2-point conversion.

Charlie Jones returned the first kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for the Bengals (3-4), who have won three of four games after trailing by three games to start the season.

Watson's injury came as the Browns welcomed running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 last season. Chubb ran for a 1-yard touchdown shortly after Watson went out.

Chubb received a thunderous ovation as he sprinted out of the tunnel during the pregame introduction. The outcry came seconds after a struggling Watson was booed before Cleveland's first home game in three weeks.

Chubb was already one of the Browns' most popular players. He said the support he received from fans during his recovery kept him going, and he thanked Cleveland fans in an essay in the Players' Tribune this week.

The Bengals were up 7-0 before Burrow even touched the ball.

Jones caught the opening kick at his goal line, found a seam at Cleveland's 25, cut to his right and was gone. He was almost caught at the 10-yard line, but stayed on his feet, stayed in the field and plunged into the end zone.

It was only the third kick return of his career. Last season as a rookie against Baltimore, he returned a puntback 81 yards for a touchdown.

Jones' TD was the longest return of the season and the third since the new kickoff rule was implemented this season.

Injuries

Bengals: S Geno Stone was carried off on a cart late in the fourth with a serious leg injury. Stone was thrown into the air after being accidentally hit by teammate Vonn Bell. … LT Orlando Brown Jr. left in the second quarter with a right knee injury and did not return.

Next

Bengals: Host Philadelphia next Sunday.

Browns: Host Baltimore next Sunday.

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