Former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has made his intentions to return to the field as soon as possible crystal clear, and one former All-Pro believes the three-time Pro Bowler deserves an opportunity to prove himself right.
However, it is far less certain if his current team, the Cleveland Browns, would necessarily want to put him back on the field even once he is cleared.
Watson’s future remains a source of intrigue long after his peak with the Texans.
Former Browns Star Pushes for Ex-Texans QB Deshaun Watson
Getty ImagesDeshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans reacts during a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Browns legend and former kick returner Josh Cribbs – a three-time Pro Bowler, a First Team All-Pro in 2009, and a member of the All-2000s Hall of Fame Team – pushed for Cleveland to turn back to Watson, who has played in 19 games over three seasons since his trade from the Texans.
Still, Cribbs believes Watson is a better solution for the Browns than rookie Dillon Gabriel.
“Ya’ll forgot about 4,” Cribbs said on “The Top Dawgs Show” on October 30. “Deshaun Watson ain’t terrible.
“I know Deshaun Watson would throw for more than 115 yards. I believe that Deshaun Watson, and all his faults, will put up more passing yards and throw it down the field more than 4 yards on average; I guarantee you that.”
Gabriel had 116 yards on 72.2% completion in a 31-6 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.
He followed that with a 156-yard, 2-touchdown performance on 60% completion in a 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8.
Gabriel, the No. 94 overall selection of the 2025 draft, has completed 59.9% of his passes for 702 yards, 5 TDs, and 2 INTs. Watson, who had a 14,539-104-36 line on 67.8% completion with the Texans, has 3,365 yards, 19 TDs, and 11 INTs with the Browns.
Browns Expected to Keep Deshaun Watson Sidelined
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns works out during mandatory minicamp.
Watson has posted numerous videos of himself working out, including clips of the former Texans star at the Browns’ facilities. Still, he remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a twice-torn Achilles tendon.
Even if Watson is healthy enough to play, The Athletic’s Zac Jackson expressed significant doubts about the Browns letting him back on the field in a game.
Jackson also believes Watson is still “more than a couple weeks” away from returning anyway.
“Even when they decide that they can open his practice window, it’s still 21 days. And then, even if they decide that he’s fully cleared and ready to go, just putting him on the 53[-man roster] doesn’t mean that he has to play. So, I’m very strongly in the camp that he won’t play. I understand the window’s open, the door’s open, all of those things, right? We’re talking about availability windows, not Super Bowl windows,” Jackson said on “Sports 4 CLE” on October 31.
“But it is far, far, far from a guarantee or far, far, far from even a probability to me that Deshaun Watson will play. So, if we talk again in three, four weeks, let’s examine that. But I – it’s lingering, but I don’t think that it’s going to happen.”
Watson is on a five-year, $230 million contract through 2026, so the Browns have significant financial ramifications to consider regarding the former Texans QB.
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