Player News

• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Unlikely to play this season

  5D ago • By RotoWire

  Watson (Achilles) isn't expected to play at any point this season, but Cleveland plans to keep the veteran quarterback on its roster in 2026, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Watson was designated for return from the PUP list Wednesday and logged a trio of limited practices this week. While Watson's presence at practice seems to indicate that the 2017 first-round draft pick has reached the final stage in his recovery from a re-ruptured right Achilles tendon, the Browns appear content to keep him out of games amid a season in which they've relied primarily on rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to handle quarterback duties. Though Cleveland is leaning toward keeping Watson around for next season, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll reclaim a starting role. Schefter notes that money is part of the reason why the Browns expect Watson back, and also indicates that the team values his veteran presence around the rookie signal-callers. The Browns would incur a dead-cap salary charge of close to $135 million if Watson were released before June 1 and a $53 million charge if he were designated as a post-June 1 cut.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Out for Week 14

  6D ago • By RotoWire

  Watson (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Titans, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. The Browns opened Watson's 21-day practice window Wednesday to return from the PUP list, which is where he's resided since the start of training camp after undergoing a second surgery in early January to address a re-rupture of his right Achilles. He strung together limited showings in practice this week, but even if he gets medical clearance to play, he might not surpass rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Takes big step toward return

  9D ago • By RotoWire

  The Browns designated Watson (Achilles) to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, and he's on track to be limited in his first session, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. Watson hasn't played this season, as he's been on the PUP list (where he still resides) after re-rupturing his Achilles in January. The veteran QB has been serving as a mentor to rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, however, and over the past month he's posted videos to his social media that show him being able to drop back on snaps. Those clips were a precursor to his return to drills Wednesday, and Watson now will have a 21-day window to ramp up in practice before Cleveland either has to activate him or rule him out for the rest of the season. While the Browns could activate Watson and subsequently allow him to suit up on game day anytime during that 21-day frame, it seems unlikely that he'll be ready to play this Sunday against Tennessee given his extended absence -- he last played in an NFL game Week 7 of last season.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Joins team for road trip

  18D ago • By RotoWire

  Watson (Achilles) accompanied the Browns to Las Vegas for Sunday's game against the Raiders, marking the first time he's joined the team on the road this season, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Watson will be on the sideline to serve as a resource to rookie Shedeur Sanders, who will be making his first NFL start Sunday. The 30-year-old's presence in Las Vegas is also a sign that he's making progress in his recovery from the right Achilles tendon he re-ruptured back in January, requiring a second surgery in less than three months. The Browns haven't offered up any specifics regarding where Watson stands in his rehab program, but he's posted multiple videos on social media in recent weeks that appear to show him dropping back on snaps and throwing without being compromised by the Achilles injury. Cleveland could open Watson's 21-day practice window at any time, though the organization may prefer to wait until OTAs in the spring to clear the veteran signal-caller for on-field work. Watson will be entering the final season of a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2026.

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• Browns' Deshaun Watson: Progressing, but not practicing

  30D ago • By RotoWire

  The Browns plan on waiting until at least Week 12 to potentially open the 21-day practice window for Watson (Achilles), Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. On Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Watson was progressing well in his recovery from Jan. 20 surgery and didn't dismiss the possibility of the quarterback could practice this week, but a return to the field will instead be delayed by at least one more week. Given that he hasn't practiced in more than a year, he'll likely need close to the full 21-day window to fully ramp up before the Browns would consider activating him from the PUP list. Despite having been out all season, Watson has attended all meetings and has filled a mentorship role for Cleveland's two rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and backup Shedeur Sanders. The 30-year-old remains under contract with the Browns through next season after inking a five-year, $230 million extension with Cleveland shortly after he was acquired from the Texans in March 2022.

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