Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Cleared For a Return To Practice
Just when you thought the Cleveland Browns’ 2025 season couldn’t get any more bizarre, the franchise decided to throw another plot twist into the mix on Wednesday. Against all odds, and perhaps against common medical logic, the Browns have designated Quarterback Deshaun Watson to return to practice. This opens a 21-day window for the team to decide if they want to activate him to the 53-man roster or shut him down for good.
If you’re scratching your head, you aren’t alone. Most of us assumed Watson was done for the year, if not longer, after the double-whammy injury saga he’s endured. But here we are, watching one of the NFL’s most expensive and controversial figures lace up his cleats again.
A Timeline That Defies the Odds
Let’s rewind for a second to appreciate the absurdity of this comeback. Watson didn’t just hurt his leg; he went through the orthopedic ringer. First, he ruptured his right Achilles tendon back in October 2024, ending his season. Then, in a cruel twist of fate that usually only happens to Cleveland sports teams, he re-tore the same Achilles in January 2025.
For most athletes, a re-tear is a career-altering sentence that requires a calendar year of rehab, minimum. Yet, somehow, Watson has beaten the projected timeline. Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the move, noting that Watson will start with individual drills.
“His focus, my focus, is obviously getting him back to playing football, practicing football, which he hasn’t done in over a year,” Stefanski said.
The $230 Million Elephant In the Room
You can’t talk about Watson without talking about the money. It’s the cloud that hangs over every snap he takes—or doesn’t take. When the Browns traded the farm (three first-round picks) and handed him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, they pushed all their chips into the middle of the table. So far? The dealer has taken all the chips.
Owner Jimmy Haslam has already admitted the trade was a “big swing-and-miss,” which is the nice billionaire way of saying “we made a colossal mistake.” Since arriving in Cleveland, Watson has played in just 19 games due to a mix of suspensions and injuries. His play on the field hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire, either, with QBR numbers that leave fans yearning for the glory days of… well, anyone else.
But because of the salary cap implications, Watson carries a staggering $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the Browns are essentially stuck. They have to see if there is anything left in the tank. They have to know if their quarter-billion-dollar investment can still throw a spiral.
The Awkward Quarterback Shuffle
This return to practice creates a fascinating, albeit awkward, dynamic in the locker room. The Browns have been trying to patch together a season with a carousel of signal-callers. They brought in Joe Flacco (then traded him), drafted Dillon Gabriel, and are currently rolling with rookie Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders, a fifth-round pick who carries the weight of his famous last name, is preparing for his third career start this Sunday against the Titans. He’s the young guy trying to prove he belongs. And now, looming in the background at practice, is the veteran Watson, taking reps and casting a very expensive shadow.
Stefanski tried to downplay the drama, praising Watson for being “supportive in the meeting room.” But anyone who follows the NFL knows that a quarterback controversy is never truly supportive; it’s just tense.
What Happens Next For Watson?
So, will we actually see Watson take a snap in a game this year? That remains the million-dollar question. Stefanski was non-committal, stating that getting Watson into a game isn’t the immediate focus. “His focus is putting a helmet on again for the first time… That’s where the focus is,” the coach said.
The Browns have three weeks to make a call. If Watson doesn’t get activated after 21 days, he reverts to the PUP list, and his season is officially over. But if he looks good? If the Achilles holds up? We might just see one of the strangest comebacks in recent memory. For Browns fans, it’s just another week in the factory of sadness. But at least this week, the headlines are about football practice, not courtrooms or cap space.
