Deshaun Watson’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.
The 28-year-old quarterback has played just 12 total games – thanks to suspension and injury – for the Browns over the past two seasons. During the 2023 campaign, he played six games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
Despite the latest hangup in his Browns career, head coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson is doing everything he’s supposed to in order to get back on the field.
“He’s doing all the things he’s supposed to be doing when it comes to rehab,” Stefanski said. “So, when it gets to those points in OTAs and minicamp, we’ll go with what’s suggested by the medical team. But he’s doing a great job.”
With new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on the sideline, Stefanski made it clear the Browns won’t speed up Watson’s recovery in order to get him reps in the new offense.
“I think that’s our job, is to put the system together with the players in mind,” he said. “And, obviously, we’ll make sure that we are smart about Deshaun’s rehab and focus on getting him ready for the season. And when he’s ready to contribute in practice, he’ll be out there based on what the medical staff tells us.
“Now, having said that, we’re putting the system together, we’re full speed ahead in these meeting rooms. And when we get out on that practice field, we’ll constantly be trying to get better as an offense. But we’re not going to speed Deshaun up just to get the offense sped up.”
Can Watson finally play a full season for the Browns?