A big question surrounding Deshaun Watson’s Achilles injury: How much of his salary is insured by the Browns?

In the face of significant, season-ending injuries for highly paid NFL quarterbacks, it has become one of the sizable questions waiting in the wake of catastrophe: How much of the quarterback’s contract was insured?

After determining the type of injury, after addressing the physical and mental well-being of the player, and after stepping back and understanding the path forward, the reality of financial implications kicks in. And for the Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson, the impact of those implications — most specifically tied to the insurance covering his 2024 salary — could be immense.

According to two sources familiar with Watson’s contract, at least some portion of Watson’s remaining 2024 salary is indeed covered by an insurance policy. Precisely how much is covered for a potential season-ending Achilles injury — and how much of that coverage could be rolled into 2025 salary-cap relief — is not yet known publicly, largely because only the Browns and their chosen insurer know the precise language and payouts of the insurance policy. Not all injuries are covered (although Achilles injuries are considered fairly standard) and the amount of coverage varies for teams based on the premiums they choose to pay.

“The cap credit [in 2025] will be the reflection of the payout,” one source told Yahoo Sports. “Or whatever the Browns reveal — if they say anything at all. I doubt they will make that public. Most teams don’t like to talk about insurance policies.”

It appears to be another lost season for Deshaun Watson and the Browns after the QB suffered an Achilles injury on Sunday against the Bengals. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

The subject of insurance covering for season-ending injuries was thrust into the spotlight last season, when it was reported that the New York Jets had failed to protect any of the $37 million in guaranteed salary owed to Aaron Rodgers. That misstep proved significant after Rodgers tore his Achilles just minutes into the…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-21 04:50:20

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