Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson appears to be nearing a return, sharing a new glimpse of his recovery in a social media post Thursday that reignited speculation about when he’ll be back on the field.
Watson is recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles. He initially suffered the injury in October of last season. He had a second surgery in January after a setback in his recovery. The Browns have yet to provide a clear timeline for Watson’s return to the field, simply stating that he’s expected to miss significant time this season.
That being said, Watson has been documenting his recovery on social media. And the former Pro Bowler looked sharp in his latest post, showing off his footwork while he threw some passes at the Browns’ facility.
“Motion picture,” Watson captioned the post, along with an hourglass emoji.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Drawing Positive Reviews
Watson has remained around the Browns’ facility during his recovery and has been a presence in the team’s quarterback room. The Browns players and coaches have praised Watson for his input.
“He’s doing a great job in the meeting room, he’s doing a great job in rehab,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said recently.
Watson’s perspective has taken on added importance after Cleveland traded 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. As the Browns’ most seasoned quarterback, Watson now serves as a key mentor for rookie passers Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Bailey Zappe also remains in the mix on the practice squad, though his experience is limited to eight NFL starts.
While being a mentor is part of his job right now, Watson’s focus is getting back on the field and rebuilding his reputation as a potential starter.
“Everyone is doubting me — everyone don’t believe in me,” Watson said in an April social media post. “Everyone don’t think I can get back to where I was. But I know, and I believe the work that I put in, that I believe in myself… I know, I’m gonna be way better than before.”
‘Growing Sense’ Deshaun Watson Could Play for Browns This Season
The Browns elevated Gabriel to QB1 in Week 5, replacing Flacco after a 1-3 start. He turned in a respectable stat line in his first start, passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Browns still struggled to produce explosive plays in the passing game and are averaging an NFL-worst 14.6 points per game.
If Gabriel struggles, the focus will quickly shift to who gets the next shot under center. The Browns have yet to officially name Sanders as the backup, leaving the door open for Zappe if he’s elevated from the practice squad. And when Watson — the team’s $230 million quarterback — is healthy enough to practice, he’ll also be in the mix.
According to Browns insider Brad Stainbrook, there’s growing optimism inside the building that Watson could return this season.
“There’s a growing sense in Berea that Deshaun Watson wants to get back on the field this season, and that it might actually happen,” Stainbrook said. “I’m told he’s nearing full health, and while the team isn’t making any promises, they’re not ruling out a return before the year’s over. A few inside the building even floated to me that Week 10, right after the bye, as a potential window for him to return to practice.
Watson remains on the PUP list as the Browns head to Pittsburgh this week to take on the Steelers in a key divisional matchup.
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