The Browns have started three different quarterbacks this season. A fourth could be on the way. Cleveland opened Deshaun Watson‘s practice window on Wednesday. The team will have 21 days to activate Watson from the reserve/PUP list.
Watson hasn’t appeared in a game since Oct. 20, 2024, when he tore his right Achilles in a loss to the Bengals. The 30-year-old tore the same Achilles while rehabbing last January. He had to undergo surgery shortly after that.
Coming off two major injuries, it’s unclear if Watson will be healthy enough to take the field this season. He’ll only take individual practice reps for now before “potentially” moving up to the scout team at some point, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski (via Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland).
Asked if he wants Watson to play in 2025, Stefanski said (via Zac Jackson of The Athletic): “Really not my focus. Not his focus right this minute. His focus is putting a helmet on, shoulder pads, throwing a football.”
Watson’s Achilles injury was the latest unwelcome development in what has been a disastrous run in Cleveland. Then with the Texans, Watson sat out the entire 2021 season while angling for a new contract. He was also facing ongoing sexual misconduct allegations.
Despite his troubling off-field issues, the Browns sent four picks (three first-rounders and a third-rounder) to the Texans for Watson in March 2022. The trade has turned out to be one of the most lopsided swaps in NFL history, especially considering Cleveland immediately gave Watson a five-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $230MM.
The allegations against Watson led to an 11-game suspension to begin his first season with the Browns. The three-time Pro Bowler has not regained his past form since then. Watson has started just 19 games for the Browns, who have gone 9-10 with him at the helm. He has posted a lackluster 80.2 passer rating with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions since leaving Houston.
More to come…
Deshaun
Worst (dumbest) contract in nfl history?
Yes. A guy with a serious injury history and a couple dozen sexual misconduct allegations against him, who hadn’t played a snap the previous season, got such an unprecedented amount of guaranteed money that it took more than two years for anyone to match it. Definitely the worst contract in NFL history, and when combined with the trade, the worst transaction in NFL history.
This reminds me of the scene from Batman:the Dark Knight where the Joker says “And…here…we…go!” before trying to blow up a building.
The Oil Bandit returns!
Assuming they’re just testing grip strength & wrist flexibility for clipboard holding.
Yeh he. Grip strength
“Thats garbage Watson! You think that is how we hold a clipboard! Do it again!”
Lolololololol
In other news about windows, massage therapists were reportedly jumping out of windows in their eagerness to escape Deshaun Watson.
They are stuck with him. At this point with a bad draft class for QB. You might as well see if Watson can give you 65% of his old self. The problem is the defense is here now, the offensive weapons are here, the window is kind of now. This teams needs a QB next year.
No because Sanders is better then the 2026 class of overhyped QB’S…we need OL and WR
Well he won’t be able to beat out Shedeur Sanders…but maybe this will give them a better backup QB then Dillon Gabriel…