Browns QB Deshaun Watson Gets Bad News on Return
Deshaun Watson is determined to return to the field this season but the outlook is grim for the Cleveland Browns‘ $230 million quarterback.
Watson is recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles. He initially suffered the injury in October of last year and suffered a setback in January, requiring a second surgery.
Watson opened the season on the PUP list and has been working hard to get back on the field this season. The expectation was that he would be evaluated in the bye week and the team was going to make a decision whether or not to open up his practice window.
However, Browns beat reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic does not believe Watson will see the field this season, even if he is cleared for a return.
“It’s probably more than a couple of weeks. And even when they decide he can open his practice window, it’s still 21 days. And even if they decide he’s fully cleared and ready to go, putting him on the 53 doesn’t mean he has to play,” Jackson said on 92.3 The Fan. “I’m very strongly in the camp that he won’t play. I understand the window is open, the door is open, all of those things. We’re talking about availability windows not Super Bowl windows. It is far, far, far from a guarantee or even a probability that Deshaun Watson will play. It’s lingering but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Browns Don’t View Deshaun Watson as Part of Future
The Browns have admitted the blockbuster 2022 trade and $230 million fully guaranteed contract for Watson was a “swing and miss.” And owner Jimmy Haslam continues to point at the move as a significant reason the team has not been able to turn into a contender.
“Kevin’s done a really good job with us, and we’ve had some tough breaks,” Haslam told The Athletic, referring to the Watson trade. “A big trade we made didn’t work out, and you know, we’re all suffering from that. Kevin, I thought, really did a great job of rallying the troops last week at a really critical time. You find out about leaders when things are bad, not when they’re good, and he did a good job last week.”
The Achilles injury is not the first setback for Watson in Cleveland. And when available, he’s struggled to regain his Pro Bowl form from his Houston days, posting a 9-10 record as the starter while throwing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Browns QB Position Remains Unstable
Cleveland had an interesting strategy at the quarterback position this offseason, signing Joe Flacco and trading for Kenny Pickett. The Browns then drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round and added Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.
Pickett and Flacco have both been traded away and the Browns are expected to rely on their rookies the rest of the way. Gabriel has started the last four games, going 1-3 in those contests but failing to spark the anemic Browns’ offense.
If the Browns decide to make a chance, Sanders would likely be next in line. The polarizing former Colorado star has yet to take reps with the first-team offense but has said he’s remaining ready if his number is called.
The Browns will face the New York Jets out of the bye week with an opportunity to turn things around.
Latest Detroit Lions 2025 NFL Trade Deadline Buzz
The Detroit Lions are a football team that has been built steadily through the draft.
Approaching the trade deadline, general manager Brad Holmes is doing his due diligence to try and improve the roster.
The three biggest areas of need are along the defensive line, offensive line depth and at cornerback.
Dan Campbell indicated he does not feel the team will be all that active at the deadline, but anything could happen by Tuesday afternoon.
“I mean look, I don’t. But that doesn’t mean we won’t. I mean he’s brought up a couple of things already," Campbell said regarding the Lions' potential deadline activity. "I’m so focused on the here and now and the roster we have in place, getting these guys ready to go. I love where we’re at. I think the roster is healthy, I think it’s in a good position, I think we have depth. But, like I say, he’s always looking to improve the roster. That’s one of his jobs, and he does a hell of a job at it.”
Campbell is not shy at all about going to the front office and expressing a desire for a certain position to be addressed or for added depth in order to be able to practice as intensely as everybody wants.
"If I’ve got something on my mind and I feel, absolutely I would go there," said Campbell. "And we stay in open communication with that all the time. So, yeah. I mean if I feel like there’s something that is eating away at me a little bit or maybe just a bit of a concern, sure I’ll bring that to his attention.”
Detroit's general manager has evaluated a myriad of players, and has expectedly been working the phones.
According to those with knowledge of the situation, the organization would be comfortable going to the playoffs with the current roster. Detroit's front office feels comfortable in the players expected to return and with the development of players lower on the depth chart and on the practice squad.
Detroit's coaching is highly anticipating the return of several defenders who are expected to provide depth and the ability to pressure the quarterback a number of different ways.
An issue Detroit faces when making calls is the asking price to make a splash. Other teams are willing to offer multiple first-round picks, something Detroit is not exactly thrilled to do, given the philosophy of building through the draft.
The asking price for top-end talent has been quite high, and the biggest challenge Holmes faces is many teams are also asking for players to be included in deals.
Detroit is not willing to include young starters in any trade deals. Being a good team, the picks that would be dealt would be lower in each round, giving other teams a slight advantage in the offers they could make.
Holmes would really like to solidify the depth along the offensive line, as the team has two older players starting. Taylor Decker is grinding through a shoulder injury, and the team would like added comfort. Detroit could also play a versatile lineman into the rotation, if needed.
The latest 'Lone Wolves' podcast discusses the latest Lions rumors, trade deadline buzz and which players Holmes should target and which players the NFC contenders should clearly avoid.
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