At this level, the Cleveland Browns are determined for a change. They benched quarterback Joe Flacco earlier this 12 months earlier than ultimately buying and selling him to the Cincinnati Bengals. That allowed for his or her third-round choose, Dillon Gabriel, to begin just a few video games.
Shedeur Sanders continues to be ready his flip as Gabriel has struggled to get something going. Cleveland is aware of they nonetheless have DeShaun Watson of their again pocket, however he’s been held again by accidents.
Cleveland Browns Nonetheless Can’t Open Watson’s 21-Day Window.
Watson, who re-tore his Achilles, hasn’t performed an NFL sport since October 20, 2024. The Browns went towards the grain and determined to pay him $230 million regardless of not having performed an NFL sport from 2022-22. The previous Houston Texans quarterback is likely one of the most polarizing figures within the league, but it surely’s not as if he’s confirmed himself worthy of the contract both.
Since signing with the Browns in 2022, Watson has appeared in simply 19 video games. He hasn’t performed greater than seven video games in a season, illustrating the group’s restricted reliance on him. His harm final 12 months was yet one more setback as Browns’ reporter Mary Kay Cabot mentioned how shut he’s to returning.
“Watson continues to be awaiting medical clearance to follow after recovering from his re-torn Achilles, and the Browns hope to have a greater sense of his timetable within the subsequent week or two,” she stated. “As soon as he’s medically cleared, the Browns could have the choice of opening his 21-day follow window.”
Cabot clarified, “Throughout that three-week span, they will activate him to the 53-man roster in the event that they wish to see him play. If not, he’ll stay on reserve/Bodily Unable to Carry out for the rest of the season.”
Watson, who’s been by way of three surgical procedures, nonetheless needs to play soccer. The Browns would love for him to return to the sphere as they’re set to pay him a $46M base wage subsequent season. If something, they’d moderately him be 100% wholesome for subsequent 12 months and never have to fret about one other QB battle with an growing older veteran and pair of rookies. That stated, final 12 months he had an F grade in PFSN’s QB Impression Metric.
Finally, the group wants somebody dependable at quarterback. Watson has NFL expertise, however he hasn’t been half the participant he was again when he was with the Texans. On the finish of the day, he’s this group’s $230M QB, and so they’ll experience out his contract so long as they will.
