Dawgs By Nature
Most Cleveland Browns fans are in one of two camps coming out of their Week 9 bye week: “Please fast forward to the 2026 NFL draft” or “Please do something, anything to make this offense better.” With the New York Jets next up on the schedule, the latter could happen in much the way that the offense looked better against the Miami Dolphins.
The NFL trade deadline and QB Shedeur Sanders looming as a QB change option could lead to big dominoes of change for the Browns roster, but none are certain to improve the team significantly, despite Cleveland reportedly looking to be buyers, not sellers.
Then there is QB Deshaun Watson.
Most agree that the decision to trade for Watson is the worst move made in the NFL. Owner Jimmy Haslam called it “a big swing and miss” and seems to be using it as an excuse for HC Kevin Stefanski’s recent record.
When Watson injured his Achilles tendon last season, the expectation was that he would return to Cleveland at some point during this season. Once he re-tore the same Achilles in January, most believed his time with the team was all but over, despite being around the facility on a daily basis. Then came reports in May and July that Watson’s recovery could see him return to the active roster this season.
Despite that, the Browns have seemed to have little interest in activating the quarterback they invested all those draft picks and money in. According to Mary Kay Cabot, Watson will have to pass “some rechecks on the Achilles, and the decision on his practice window will be based on whether or not he passes his medical exams.”
Cabot notes that there is no guarantee that his practice window will be opened, but if it is, the team would have 21 days to activate him for the rest of the season or leave him on injured reserve.
