One name that many NFL fans have not heard in a while is Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. He has not played in the NFL since the middle of the 2024 season. Watson suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 7 of last year, and his rehab has been quiet with no reports on when he could return.
The Browns are having a dreadful season, and Watson would not do much to change that. However, is there a chance we see Watson back on the field this season?
Deshaun Watson Could Return This Season
Watson underwent Achilles tendon surgery on January 20, and there’s a chance we’ll see him play for the Browns this season. According to Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns plan on waiting until Week 12 to potentially open the 21-day practice window for Watson to return from injured reserve.
Watson has not played in over a year, and he will likely need all 21 days of practice to see if he can return to play this season. At the earliest, it seems like Watson may not be able to play until Week 16. With the Browns already out of the playoff hunt, they will have to decide if it is even worth bringing Watson back.
The Browns have a youth movement at quarterback this season, with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as QB1 and QB2 most of the season. The Browns should use the rest of the season to develop those two players, hoping to see potential in one of them. It is rebuild time in Cleveland, and a 30-year-old Watson will likely not be in their plans.
Browns Should Look Into Moving off Watson
The acquisition and extension of Watson have not been good moves for the Browns. He has struggled ever since joining Cleveland, and it may be time for the franchise to look elsewhere for a quarterback.
Unfortunately, Watson owes a lot of money, and his contract will be a difficult one to move. For that reason, it seems likely the Browns will be forced to hold him for the 2026 season.
According to Browns Nation, Kay Cabot said, “As for whether or not he’ll be on the team next season, it seems a foregone conclusion that he will be.”
After the 2026 season, the Browns will have a void in Watson’s contract and can make him an unrestricted free agent. The future of the Browns’ offense is bleak, and it all starts with their inability to find a franchise quarterback.
