Sportsnaut
Earlier this week, Deshaun Watson practiced with the Cleveland Browns for the first time all season. Working his way back from a twice-torn Achilles tendon, Watson remains on the team’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Are the Browns, who have already had three different starting quarterbacks this season, preparing Watson to be the fourth? Nope.
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains, Watson “is not expected to play this year.” However, PFT still expects Watson to remain on the Browns’ roster in 2026.
Likely the biggest reason why the Browns don’t want to put Watson on the field this season is to avoid any further injury. After all, he’s set to make $46 million next season, and that money is already guaranteed.
In other words, it’s in everyone’s best interest if Watson is healthy. While no team would likely trade for a player who’s come nowhere close to performing like the three-time Pro Bowler he was with the Houston Texans, the Browns still don’t have their QB of the future, and more competition never hurts.
Plus, he’ll finally be headed into the final year of his contract, and then everyone can move on from arguably the biggest disaster in franchise history.
Related: 2025 NFL Report Card: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Before Week 14
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