The Cleveland Browns welcome in the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, as superstar edge rusher Myles Garrett has the single-season sack record in his sights, currently sitting at 18. It's the quarterback position, though, that has dominated headlines in Cleveland, though, especially after the Browns made the switch to rookie Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns are 1-1 with Sanders under center, and somehow another quarterback entered the conversation, much to the dismay of many fans.
Deshaun Watson returned to practice for the first time this season with the Browns. And while many were hoping 2025 would be the last time they'd have to talk about Watson, he is expected to be back in 2026.
"Though quarterback Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play this season, the Cleveland Browns are planning to have him on their roster next season, league sources told ESPN," Adam Schefter reports.
Why are the Browns not releasing Deshaun Watson?
The reason for Watson likely being back in Cleveland, as Schefter points out, is largely due to money.
"There are varied reasons the team expects Watson back next season, with money being a factor," Schefter writes. "Moving on from him would be costly, as the Browns would incur a dead salary cap charge of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he were designated a post-June 1 cap casualty."
That $53 million is equal to what the Broncos ate after releasing Russell Wilson. In totality, Wilson accounted for over $80 million in dead cap that was spread across 2024 and 2025. Should the Browns want to cut Watson post-June 1, there is precedent for that much of a dead cap hit.
More NFL news:
Is Dalton Kincaid playing vs. Bengals? Latest injury update on Bills tight end
Will Trey Hendrickson return in Week 14 vs. Bills? Latest injury update on Bengals edge rusher
Will Jayden Daniels return in Week 14? Injury update for Commanders QB
Is Joey Bosa playing vs. The Bengals? Injury update on Buffalo Bills star edge rusher