Deshaun Watson had remained hopeful he’d find a way to contribute before the season wrapped, but with the weeks slipping by, any realistic return for the Cleveland Browns quarterback is becoming increasingly doubtful.
Watson is working his way back from a twice-ruptured Achilles. The injury initially occurred in October, but he suffered a setback in January that required a second surgery. Watson has been making progress but not enough to be cleared for a return to practice. The Browns will not be doing it this week, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. And there’s a chance the team will play it safe and simply wait until next season to see Watson in action again.
“Watson, who underwent surgery in January to repair his re-ruptured Achilles, is coming along well in his rehab but is not ready to start practicing with the team. The Browns can open his 21-day practice window at any time, but it’s looking more and more like they might wait until the offseason workout program to put him back on the practice field,” Cabot said.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski declined to comment on Watson’s status and if there’s a potential timeline for him to return this season. If Watson returns, it’ll open his 21-day practice window. The Browns can activate Watson to the active roster any time during that stretch.
Browns Set to Start Shedeur Sanders
Part of what made the Watson storyline more intriguing this week is the Browns’ increasingly tangled quarterback situation. Dillon Gabriel — who has started the last five games — is expected to miss Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders after suffering a concussion in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Gabriel exited at halftime, prompting high-profile fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders to take over. Fans had been clamoring to see Sanders get his opportunity, but he struggled in his first NFL action. The former Colorado standout completed just four passes for 47 yards and threw an ill-advised interception.
With Gabriel sidelined, Sanders is expected to draw the start this week. Bailey Zappe, still on the practice squad, will likely serve as the backup.
The Browns have yet to officially name Sanders the starter. Stefanski said he would make an announcement later in the week when they received more information on Gabriel.
“We’ll work through that in the next couple days and this week,” Stefanski said on Monday. “I’ll update you guys Wednesday as we get into Vegas preparations.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Getting First-Team Reps
Those defending Sanders’ rough outing against the Ravens have pointed to his lack of work with the starting offense. The Browns had given all first-team reps to Gabriel — also a rookie — who needed every snap as he settled in as the starter.
With Gabriel sidelined, Sanders will finally get an extended run with Jerry Jeudy and the rest of Cleveland’s top pass-catchers this week. Stefanski expressed confidence that the added preparation will make a difference.
“I think it’s important that you do what you think is right for a football team,” Stefanski said. “The development of our players is constant. It doesn’t happen just in one drill or in one practice or one meeting. So we trust our guys, we trust our backup players to be ready to go, and Shedeur is ready to go. Obviously I know he wants to play better, I want to coach better, all those type of things. But that’ll come through work.”
The Browns head to Las Vegas this week to take on the Raiders.
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