Deshaun Watson returned to the Browns facility this week after undergoing surgery Oct. 25 to repair his ruptured Achilles, and was welcomed with open arms by everyone in the organization – but it doesn’t mean he’ll play for the Browns again.
Watson, who went 1-6 this season before rupturing the Achilles late in the first half of the 21-14 loss the Bengals, is in good spirits and determined to come back strong from the injury, which will require about a 6-9 month recovery before he can begin practicing. As of now, he might stick around for the rest of the season to rehab at the Browns’ state-of-the-art facility.
Question is, where will he come back to when he’s healthy?
The Browns and Watson’s camp have had some discussions about the future, and tentative plans or options will likely become more clear in the coming weeks or months. Management of Watson’s enormous remaining cap hits will be paramount, with charges of almost $73 million in each of the next two years and nearly $27 million in 2027. If the Browns trade or release him before June 1, he’ll count $172 million against their 2025 cap, and if they do so after June 1, he’ll count almost $120 million on the 2025 books.
The Browns might also try to find a way to spread the crippling cap hits out over more years with another restructuring of the contract. With Watson, who has two years left on the deal, getting booed during introductions of the Bengals game and then cheered by some while he was down with the ruptured Achilles, it seems that a mutual parting of the ways is in the best interests of both parties.
But of course, it’s not that simple given the salary cap ramifications.
One NFL source told cleveland.com that a settlement between the two sides is unlikely, because the NFLPA wouldn’t approve Watson giving back any money from the $230 million contract — the first and only fully-guaranteed pact in the NFL.
While the two sides work out a plan, Watson will continue to work hard to come back from the fourth major surgery of his career, and second in the past two seasons. He was still working his way back from surgery last November to repair the fractured shoulder and torn labrum when he went down with the Achilles. He’s also torn his ACL twice, once in college and once in his rookie year with the Texans.
Watson may have already been in contact about his recovery with Atlanta’s Kirk Cousin who ruptured his Achilles in Week 8 of last season and returned for training camp in late July. He’s started all eight games for the Falcons, leading them to a 5-3 record. With uncertaintly over Cousins’ return and needing a succesion plan, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix No. 8 overall out of Washington.
The Browns will undoubtedly strongly consider drafting a quarterback, but can also trade for one, sign one in free agency, or re-sign Jameis Winston as a bridge quarterback. Regardless of whether or not the Browns keep Watson around in some capacity, they’ll need to have another starting QB on the roster in 2025.
Watson’s presence in the building
Watson, who’s motoring around the Browns facililty on a knee scooter, has spent time since he’s been back with the other quarterbacks, and plans to do whatever he can to help Winston, who earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors with his 334-yard, 3-TD performace in the upset of the Ravens.
“Definitely a positive for everybody in the building,” Watson’s close friend Dorian Thompson-Robinson said. “I was very happy to see him. Good to chop it up with him, and he definitely brings a good morale in the building every time we see him. So definitely excited to get him back and I get to pick his brains more as the season goes through.”
Thompson-Robinson and Winston have tried to keep Watson’s mind off of coming back from the injury, which is tougher for a mobile quarterback.
“Obviously me and Jameis have been encouraging him a bunch,” Thompson-Robinson said. “He’s mainly focused on this team, his rehab and making sure we’re going out there and doing our best job on Sunday.”
Grant Delpit and Jordan Hicks have come back from Achilles surgeries
Browns safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jordan Hicks have both come back strong from Achilles surgeries, with Hicks doing so twice. Both have offered words of encouragement to Watson.
“We’ve had a couple of talks,” Delpit said. “There’s not too much I can tell him. I gave him a couple of pointers here and there. It’s a long process. It’s very slow. You’ve got to do a lot of hopping on one leg, going up and down stairs and stuff like that.
“He’ll be alright though. I just told him, ‘you see where I’m at right now.’ He can bounce back from it. That’s the main thing. It happens to a lot of guys. It’s a long process, but the strong get through it.”
He said Watson hasn’t had to tell him he’s determined to come back strong “because that’s already understood.”
Hicks, who’s ruled out for the second straight week with his elbow and triceps injuries, said his second Achilles surgery was performed by the same specialist that Watson used, Dr. Bob Anderson of North Carolina, and he had a great result. He said the mental part of the rehab is just as grueling as the physical, but that professional athletes are built tough to return.
“I told him I was praying for him and praying for his recovery,” Hicks said. “He just said he appreciates it and get out there and kill it.”
The outlook for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in wake of neck injury
Owusu-Koramoah was placed on injured reserve Saturday with his scary neck injury, and it remains to be seen if he’ll play again this season. As it stands, he must miss at least four games, and won’t be eligible to return until Dec. 8, with five games left in the season. Owusu-Koramoah, the No. 8 ranked linebacker in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, is doing well, but will undergo another round of scans before he can get back on the field. For now, everyone is grateful that Owusu-Koramoah has movement in his all of his extremities and that, as he posted on X “all is well.”
What’s next for Winston?
The Browns were thrilled with Winston’s performance against the Ravens and believe he can build on it Sunday against the Chargers despite their 9th-ranked pass defense. The Chargers, who don’t have the best cornerbacks in the NFL, elevated former Ohio State first-round pick Eli Apple, a ninth-year pro, from their practice squad on Saturday, and he’ll make his 2024 debut.
If the Browns beat the Chargers to improve to 3-6, they’ll keep their playoff hopes flickering. They’re currently only two games behind the No. 7 and final seed Chargers (4-3), and have seven AFC games left after the bye. Their only remaining NFC foe is the 2-6 Saints after the bye on Nov. 17th.
If Winston continues to excel and the Browns keep winning, he’ll keep the starting job. If the Browns find themselves with no chance to make the playoffs, they’ll consider starting Thompson-Robinson.
As for Winston’s future, the rest of the season will help determine the Browns’ plans for him in 2025. His contract is up after this year, and he could make a case for himself as a bridge starter. The Browns also have no plans to trade Winston if they lose to the Chargers, and would only do so if someone offered them a high pick.
Quinton Jefferson could be one trade possibility
The Browns still have no plans to trade to core players such as Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, as cleveland.com reported two weeks ago. Greg Newsome II or Jedrick Wills Jr. are also in that category. But they will be open to trading other players with expiring contracts who have young players behind them.
One player who fits the bill is ninth-year pro Quinton Jefferson, who’s the odd man out now that Mike Hall Jr. is back from his five-game suspension. The Browns love Hall’s explosiveness from the interior, and they appear to favor Maurice Hurst Jr. as a run stopper.
Jefferson, 31, has been the consummate professional despite being inactive for the past three games, helping younger players such as Hall, and maintaining a great attitude.
“Q has done a heck of a job for us,” said defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire. “Right now, it’s always a numbers game. And right now, we got Mike and Mo back and Shelby (Harris) and Dalvin (Tomlinson) are playing well. But Q continues to be a great professional, and he’s working hard every day. And especially in the classroom with the younger guys. He’s always giving good tips to the younger guys, especially Mike. He’s done a great job of just mentoring Mike, so we’re happy to have Q and I know eventually we’re going to get him back on the field so he can do what he does best.”
They will likely try to move a few other players in this category.
What about Za’Darius Smith?
The Browns will undoubtedly continue to get calls on Smith, 32, who’s been linked to the Lions and other teams.
But will they rade their leading sacker with 5.0 — one more than Garrett? The Lions, in their quest to replace leading edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, will likely pursue Smith, knowing that they can’t get their hands on a Garrett or Maxx Crosby. But especially if the Browns beat the Chargers, they might not be willing to part with Smith, who has one year left on his contract, with a cap charge of only $9.433 million for next season — a reasonable amount for a good edge rusher in his age 33 season.
The Lions don’t have a third-round pick, but the Browns might be willing to accept a f
ourth and some change, given that the fourth will be low.
Smith told cleveland.com on Thursday that “obviously” it would be fun to play for a Super Bowl contender but that he has no control over what’s about to happen, and he’ll go with the flow. He’s hoping the Browns make a playoff run.
Elijah Moore wants to be here
Moore was frustrated earlier this season with a lack of opportunities, but has perked up now that the offense has snapped to life and he’s getting the ball. Winston, who was benched for the first drive of the Bengals game for an undisclosed disciplinary reason, was targeted a team-high 12 times against the Ravens, and he caught a game-high eight passes for 85 yards. His name has been bandied about in trade rumors, but he told cleveland.com that he still wants to be here. The Browns have fifth-round pick Jamari Thrash waiting to get involved, but the Browns will only move Moore if someone makes them a great offer.
The Browns probably won’t be buyers at the trade deadline unless they find a young player who can help them for multiple years. Most of those trades happen when the league year opens in March, so it’s unlikely. But if the opportunity presents itself, they’ll seize the moment.
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