BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry faced numerous questions, all stemming from one primary topic.

That topic? Deshaun Watson, the Browns’ starting quarterback who is once again sidelined for the rest of the season. Many of the inquiries during Berry’s annual bye-week briefing revolved around whether Watson would ever play for the Browns again.

“Our main concern, as an organization, is ensuring he gets healthy,” Berry stated. “The truth is, with any season-ending injury, there’s always uncertainty about recovery. Therefore, our priority is to focus on his health before we move forward.”

Watson tore his Achilles on October 20 during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals and underwent surgery on October 25. The standard recovery time for this type of injury is at least nine months. When asked about a possible recovery timeline, Berry remarked, “It’s still very early, and it would be irresponsible for me to give you any specifics.”

This sentiment characterized many of Berry’s responses regarding Watson, a player that the franchise has heavily invested in since the highly controversial trade with the Houston Texans in 2022. The trade, which cost the Browns three first-round draft picks and gave Watson a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, has quickly become one of the worst trades in NFL history due to Watson’s inability to deliver sustained success.

Watson’s contract looms over the franchise, with a cap hit of nearly $73 million each of the next two years, followed by approximately $27 million in the first season after it expires in 2027.

The Browns’ current record of 2-7 raises even more questions about Watson’s future, as it highlights many other concerns within the team. Berry also faced inquiries about who should be held accountable for the trade: himself, coach Kevin Stefanski, or team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam?

“As we’ve said in the past, everyone was on board,” Berry clarified. “Given the significant commitment we made, that’s always going to be the case.”

This Achilles injury is just the latest setback for Watson, as the Browns have struggled to get a full season out of him. Previously, he faced an 11-game suspension in 2022 due to personal conduct violations linked to numerous lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct. He also dealt with shoulder injuries last year that resulted in him missing 11 games, and now he will sit out for the remainder of this season due to his Achilles.

This leaves only 19 games to properly evaluate Watson’s performance. Throughout those games, he has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly during a strong second half in last year’s Week 10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens, yet he also struggled in seven games this season prior to the current injury.

“It’s certainly not ideal,” Berry commented. “Player availability is crucial, but in the NFL, it’s common not to have all starters available. Our responsibility is to perform regardless of circumstances, and so far this season, we haven’t done that.”

The struggles of Watson and the Browns’ offense have contributed to their ranking among the league’s worst teams. This season, Watson has recorded a passer rating of just 79.0 (ranked 31st), thrown for 1,148 yards (26th), and has a completion rate of 63.4% (27th). Despite backup quarterback Jameis Winston’s impressive 334-yard performance immediately following Watson’s injury, the offense continues to struggle.

Winston, while previously performing well, faced challenges during a recent 27-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, where he threw three interceptions.

The offense received a temporary lift from his play against the Ravens. However, this only intensified the inquiries regarding why a switch at such a critical position on the field wasn’t made earlier, especially during the Browns’ pivotal five-game losing streak.

“With a record of 2-7 as we head into the bye week, we understand why the fans are upset. Our offensive performance has not been consistent, and we all share in that responsibility,” Berry remarked. “We know we can perform better, and we must. As I mentioned, we are committed to implementing the necessary changes to enhance our performance throughout the remaining eight games, ensuring we don’t encounter these feelings during the first nine games of next year.”