After he dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons for multiple years, we thankfully haven't heard much about Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson this year.
That's because Watson has been on the shelf since 2024 due to an Achilles injury. In his initial recovery, the Browns signal-caller suffered a setback that put his 2025 status in serious doubt.
However, a new report surfaced on Sunday that now opens the door for Watson to return to the field this season.
Here are the details.
Will Deshaun Watson play this season?
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Watson will be on the sideline for the Browns' Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, when Shedeur Sanders will be making his first NFL start.
Cabot also noted that there is a possibility the Browns will soon designate Watson to return from the PUP list, where he has been since the offseason.
So, it appears there's at least a chance we see Watson play in 2025.
"Watson, recovering from his re-ruptured Achilles repair, isn’t traveling just to help Sanders, but is finally healthy enough to be on the sidelines for a game," she wrote.
"There’s some thought in organization to waiting until the offseason program in April to let Watson start practicing, but he’s coming along well enough that they might open the window soon," Cabot added.
Once that window is opened, the Browns will have 21 days to activate Watson or else he has to go back on the PUP list and miss the rest of the season.
However, it remains to be seen if that will actually happen.
It wouldn't make any sense for the Browns to bring Watson back, as the team needs to give its rookie quarterbacks as many opportunities as possible to prove they can be the long-term answer under center, something Watson will not be.
If Sanders and/or Dillon Gabriel can cement themselves, the Browns will know they don't need to use a high draft pick on a quarterback in 2026.
As for Watson, it wouldn't be surprising if he never plays another snap for the Browns in what has been a disastrous tenure for him filled with off-the-field controversy and awful play when he has been on the field.
Barring the Browns cutting Watson is 2026, they are stuck with him for at least one more year, as no team in its right mind would trade for Watson given his off-the-field issues and monstrous contract.
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