Watson had resumed throwing to receivers in the spring, having shed his strolling boot. As for the place Watson stands now, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot offers a couple of key particulars on the fourth-year Browns performer’s rehab journey from two Achilles tears.
Because the Browns started a four-man competitors between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the group was “thrilled” Watson participated and has supplied recommendation. Conversely, Watson, starting his rehab in Miami after his October 2024 harm, didn’t go over nicely with some among the many Browns, Cabot signifies. Watson as a mentorship presence actually presents fascinating optics given the on- and off-field developments that occurred since his Professional Bowl Texans days, however that seems to be occurring because the Browns maintain their competitors.
Watson is mentoring each Gabriel and Sanders, per Cabot, who provides the veteran has taken Sanders “below his wing.” The 29-year-old passer has additionally shared ideas on Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme with the 2 veterans, even after he fared poorly — as common requires his benching rang out final 12 months — earlier than happening with the primary of his two Achilles tears. The second nonetheless seems more likely to pressure Watson to overlook a second full season; the primary got here when the Texans made him a wholesome scratch all through 2021.
As for Watson’s potential hopes of infiltrating the Browns’ QB combine in some unspecified time in the future this season, Cabot notes he’s anticipated to start the season on the reserve/PUP record. That may knock Watson out for at the very least 4 video games, and the Browns should not have to activate him instantly. Even when the Browns do designate Watson for return, they’d have a three-week window earlier than an activation choice would loom. At the same time as Watson has displayed progress up to now this offseason, Cabot provides {that a} return to Cleveland’s energetic roster this season stays an “huge longshot.”
Although after parking Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the PUP record early (to end his season), the group has not made that transfer with Watson. A actuality during which Watson is able to observe in October is on the radar, per Cabot; the ninth-year vet underwent his second Achilles surgery in January.
Watson’s albatross contract, repeatedly restructured (most recently in March), will undoubtedly stay a Browns challenge for the foreseeable future. The Browns can be on the hook for an unfathomable useless cash quantity in the event that they minimize him subsequent 12 months; they’d certainly unfold the $131.16M throughout two years by way of a post-June 1 designation. Although Cabot provides Watson remaining on the group — a state of affairs which might come about as a result of restructures of his contract — as a veteran to enrich the likes of Gabriel and Sanders in 2026 just isn’t out of the query. In that state of affairs, one other restructuring — which might possible require extra void years manipulation — would occur, in line with Cabot.
Cleveland can be establishing for a possible battle by way of an insurance coverage measure taken out on the contract. Watson, being unable to play this season, places a $44.27M sum in play for the Browns to recover. Though the group might gather on different elements of the coverage to assist soften the blow of an inevitable divorce, Watson being wholesome sufficient to play in 2025 would have an effect on a large chunk of the return.
This can make potential Watson clearance an fascinating storyline to comply with, whilst Haslam’s feedback level to the group not having any plans of redeploying him.
