The Cleveland Browns begin their offseason following Saturday’s first-round loss to the Houston Texans. They’re already looking toward Deshaun Watson’s return.
Cleveland’s quarterback hasn’t played since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 10. On Sunday, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed confidence in Watson recovering in time for OTAs.
“He’s doing great on rehab,” Stefanski said, per The Athletic’s Kelsey Russo. “Confident he’ll be ready to roll in the spring.”
#Browns HC Kevin Stefanski on Deshaun Watson: “He’s doing great on rehab. Confident he’ll be ready to roll in the spring.”
Said going into the offseason that Watson is the starting QB
— Kelsey Russo (@kelseyyrusso) January 14, 2024
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Stefanski confirmed that Watson enters the offseason as Cleveland’s starting quarterback. Via News 5 Cleveland’s Camryn Justice, he has “no doubt” Watson can prepare himself for a 2024 return.
“He’s excited,” Stefanski said of Watson. “I know he wants to get healthy, and he’s well on his way of doing that.”
Cleveland won four of the five full games Watson played, but he hardly looked like a $230 million quarterback.
Watson posted an 84.3 quarterback rating with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s averaged 6.5 yards per attempt with a 59.8 completion percentage in 12 games with the Browns.
Cleveland’s offense peaked late in the season behind Joe Flacco. After spending most of the year unsigned, the 38-year-old closed the regular season with 1,362 passing yards and 11 touchdowns during a four-game winning streak.
However, his Cinderella run ended when throwing two pick-sixes in Saturday’s 45-14 loss at Houston. Flacco is a free agent this offseason.
Cleveland traded several first-round picks to trade Watson before giving him an unprecedented fully guaranteed contract amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. The Browns are tied to the three-time Pro Bowler for at least three more seasons.
Watson battled injuries before his season ended in November, so the Browns will hope his 2023 is an anomaly rather than a harbinger of continued regression.