The Cleveland Browns announced on Tuesday that they have placed Deshaun Watson on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of training camp.
The Browns announced the move with training camp kicking into gear. Watson is still recovering after reinjuring his Achilles in January, requiring surgery. He initially injured his Achilles during a Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns announced during the offseason that they expect Watson to miss significant time during the coming season, although they did not rule out their $230 million passer for the year. Both the team and Watson have yet to give a firm timeline for his potential return.
With Watson out of the mix, the Browns are staging a four-man quarterback competition during training camp. It includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
The Browns also placed second-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list. All players remain on the active roster and are eligible to be activated upon passing a physical.
Deshaun Watson Likely Done With Browns
Even if he’s healthy at some point this season, it’s unlikely that Watson will be in the mix for the Browns. The team moved on publicly this offseason when owner Jimmy Haslam called the 2022 trade for Watson a “swing and miss.”
Watson has appeared in just 19 games over three seasons, throwing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In 2024, he passed for just 1,148 yards and five touchdowns in seven starts.
If Watson does recover this season and intends to play, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk predicted it could be a potential problem for Cleveland.
“If he gets a clean bill of health, that’s going to complicate Cleveland’s plan this year. They’d love for him not to play,” Florio said. “They have an insurance policy if he’s unable to play because of his twice-torn Achilles tendon. They’d get back a lot of cash, they’d recover a lot of cap space, and they don’t really need him. They’ve got four quarterbacks.”
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Making Impact Despite Injury
Watson might not make an impact this season on the field with the Browns, but he’s been putting in work behind the scenes. Unlike he did with past injuries, Watson has remained around the facility to work out and take part in meetings. He’s drawn rave reviews for his input and leadership from the rookies on the roster.
“He’s been a guy I’ve connected with as well, and he’s actually a guy I sit by in our O-line meetings, even in our offensive unit meetings,” Gabriel said during minicamp. “So just being able to be around him and nudge him and ask a question, whether it’s for confirmation or his thought, but also when we’re talking through concepts, I think it’s super cool that we do have five guys in the room that kind of can speak to their own experience and even Deshaun this morning, talking through a concept and kind of how he sees it in the red area. It can change the play in a big way, just how you think of it. So appreciate him a bunch too. Just sharing all his knowledge.”
Watson is signed through the 2026 season, but his future role remains unclear, particularly as the Browns continue to focus on finding a true franchise quarterback.
