CLEVELAND >> Deshaun Watson won’t finish the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback for the second straight year. He’s injured again, and the Browns have new problems.

Watson ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati, collapsing as he began to run and leading some Browns fans to cheer while the divisive QB laid on the ground writhing in pain.

The team feared Watson’s year was over and an MRI on Monday confirmed the rupture. The Browns said Watson will have surgery this week and miss the rest of the season but “a full recovery is expected.”

Watson’s injury is a blow to the Browns (1-6), who have lost five straight after making the playoffs last year.

The short-term implications are that either Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jameis Winston will take over as the starter.

But Thompson-Robinson injured a finger on his throwing hand after replacing Watson on Sunday, and coach Kevin Stefanski was waiting to find out if the second-year QB can play this week against Baltimore. Stefanski also said the team will sign another quarterback.

In the long term, Watson’s injury, along with the fact that he wasn’t playing close to what the Browns expected when they signed him to a $230 million contract two years ago, could lead to them taking a quarterback in next year’s draft.

Tests confirm season-ending injury for Aiyuk

SANTA CLARA, Calif.>> San Francisco 49ers star receiver Brandon Aiyuk will miss the rest of the season after tearing ligaments in his right knee.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said tests confirmed the initial diagnosis that Aiyuk tore his ACL and would need major reconstructive surgery after getting hit on the knee while making a catch in the red zone late in the second quarter of a 28-18 loss to Kansas City on Sunday. Shanahan said Aiyuk also tore his MCL.

Aiyuk, who signed a $120 million, four-year extension in late August following a lengthy contract “hold in,” has 25 catches for 374 yards this season.

Tua may return Sunday

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.>> Tua Tagovailoa does not want to be the face of traumatic brain injuries in the NFL, but he knows that’s the reality confronting him after his latest concussion.

Speaking with reporters for the first time since being diagnosed with the third concussion of his NFL career, the Dolphins quarterback said he was frustrated by having to sit on the sideline for the past four games, and he was just as aggravated about having to answer questions about his health for the second time in two years.

“Do I want to be known for this? No, I don’t,” Tagovailoa said.

Tagovailoa has been cleared by medical experts to play football again after he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin in Week 2 when he ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.

Daniels’ status unclear

Jayden Daniels’ status is up in the air for the Washington Commanders’ game against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears on Sunday because of a rib injury, and he is being listed as week to week.

Daniels is not being ruled out for what is supposed to be a matchup of the top two picks in this year’s NFL draft, but coach Dan Quinn offered little clarity about the situation other than that it’s not a serious injury.

Source: O’Connell likely out 4-6 weeks

HENDERSON, Nev.>> Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is expected to be out four to six weeks with a broken thumb. That’s according to a person close to the situation who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the Raiders had not made an announcement.