Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or J.J. McCarthy

Wednesday, October 23, 2:08 PM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is set to undergo surgery on Friday with Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon, according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot. Watson suffered the season-ending injury in the Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and is facing a ninth-month recovery timeline. The former first-round pick by the Houston Texans did not flash in his first two seasons with Cleveland, and his 2024 season was off to a disastrous start. He completed 64.3% of his passes for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions as Cleveland got out to a 1-6 record. Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to be the starter moving forward, and Watson's future with the Browns is uncertain.

Friday, August 16, 4:43 PM

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) was officially placed on the season-ending injured reserve on Friday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Vikings signed quarterback Matt Corral, who will compete for the No. 3 job. McCarthy missed practice earlier this week as he was dealing with knee soreness but eventually underwent an MRI, which showed a tear in his meniscus. The Michigan product underwent knee surgery on Wednesday and will now focus on recovering for the 2025 season. This is a tough blow for the former national champion, who looked quite sharp in the pro debut on Saturday as he went 11-for-17 with 188 passing yards and two scores. Fantasy managers should expect Sam Darnold to serve as the starting quarterback in Minnesota this season, with Nick Mullens slotted as the No. 2.