The Cleveland Browns may have had a Cinderella run with Joe Flacco at the helm at the end of last season, but it's time to get back to reality. Deshaun Watson is the one getting paid to be the franchise quarterback, and this will be a make-or-break season for the veteran.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry is convinced that Watson will be 100% healthy for Week 1, via NFL.com's Nick Shook.
“First and foremost, Deshaun has really worked his tail off during the rehabilitation process over the last several months,” Berry said Monday. “He's really actually ahead of schedule. He's really chomping at the bit to take the governor off so to speak, but really he's had a really nice spring. He's thrown the ball well. Did a really nice job during our 7-on-7 and team periods during this veteran minicamp. So, we're excited as he gets into training camp and gets the pads on.”
Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder ailment during Week 10's victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old finished the year with 1 61.4% completion percentage, with 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns, and four picks.
Berry is eager to see Watson toss spirals in training camp, as the former Houston Texan hasn't yet proven he can last for a full season with Cleveland.
“He's making excellent progress,” Berry continued. “Honestly if you didn't know he got hurt last year, you really wouldn't be able to tell the difference. We're very excited once camp starts.”
It's easy to be happy over the summer, but the truth will reveal itself once the fall and winter arrive. Will Watson be able to channel his Houston days, or is he past his prime?
Watson may have lost too much momentum to capture his old magic with the Browns
The three-time Pro Bowler has had an epic fall from grace. It's been downhill for him ever since leading the NFL in passing yards in 2020.
Watson missed the entire 2021 season, as well as the first six games of 2022 due to a combination of a standoff with the Texans' front office, as well as his sexual harassment allegations. Since then, he's played in just 12 games for Cleveland, not playing nearly as well as he did during his Houston tenure.
Now, Watson is just the 24th-best signal-caller going into the season, via NBC Sports' Chris Simms. Simms only has him one slot ahead of Pittsburgh Steelers' backup quarterback Justin Fields, who's now playing second-fiddle to Russel Wilson.
If Watson doesn't finally put it together this year, he may be relegated to backup status in the NFL as he approaches his 30's.
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