Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles tendon on October. 20, 2024, limiting him to just seven starts. Then, as he was working to recover, he re-tore that same Achilles. That complicated recovery process kept the 30-year-old from appearing in an NFL game for the full 2025 season, marking the second time in his career that he’s missed a full calendar year of football.
Though, Watson did come close this past season. The team activated his practice window for three weeks, giving head coach Kevin Stefanski a good look at what he was capable of. However, after those three weeks were up, the Browns decided against activating him to play in a game.
Still, it’s clear that Watson made a strong impression on his team during those three weeks of practice. Now, as Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot explains, Watson will indeed be back with the Browns in 2026. He’ll even be given a chance to compete for a starting role, barring a significant addition.
“He’ll be on the team next season in the final year of his contract, and was the most talented quarterback on the field during his three-week practice window in December,” Cabot said. “The ball came out very well, and Watson moved well despite undergoing two surgeries to repair his ruptured and re-ruptured Achilles. His arm looked better than it did in 2024, when he was coming off surgery to repair his fractured shoulder.”
For now, Watson is set to compete with 2024 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders. Though with a new head coach coming aboard, the Browns are sure to add another QB to the roster, creating even more competition among a hungry group.
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