Browns Open the Door for Deshaun Watson’s Return Ahead of Steelers Clash
The Cleveland Browns are leaving no stone unturned at quarterback-and that includes revisiting a familiar, if turbulent, chapter.
Deshaun Watson has been designated to return to practice, marking his first on-field action since re-rupturing his Achilles last season. It’s a notable development, especially with the Browns sitting at 3-9 and preparing for a Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Watson’s return doesn’t guarantee game action, it certainly raises eyebrows around the league-and likely in the Steelers’ film room.
Watson, now 30, hasn’t played since early in the 2024 season. His time in Cleveland has been anything but steady.
Since arriving via blockbuster trade, he’s played in just 13 games over three seasons due to a suspension and back-to-back season-ending injuries. The numbers tell the story: 341 completions on 557 attempts (61.2%), 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 9-10 record.
For a player once considered among the league’s elite, it’s been a steep and frustrating decline.
The Browns’ quarterback carousel hasn’t stopped spinning this year. They opened the season with veteran Joe Flacco under center, but sent him to Cincinnati at the trade deadline.
That opened the door for rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, who showed flashes but ultimately couldn’t produce wins. Gabriel’s stat line-937 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions over nine games-wasn’t enough to hold the job.
Enter Shedeur Sanders. The fifth-round rookie has taken over the starting role and gone 1-1 in his first two starts.
The Browns appear interested in giving Sanders a longer look, especially with their playoff hopes all but extinguished. But if he falters, the team may pivot once more, this time back to Watson.
It’s clear the organization is still reckoning with the fallout from the Watson trade. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam didn’t mince words when reflecting on the move.
“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Haslam admitted. “We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him.
So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. It was an entire organization decision, and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable.”
That kind of transparency is rare from ownership-and it underscores just how much pressure the Browns are under to find stability at the game’s most important position.
Whether Watson gets another shot this season remains to be seen. But for now, his return to the practice field is enough to shift some attention back to Cleveland. And with the Steelers looming in Week 17, Pittsburgh will be watching closely to see who lines up under center.
For the Browns, it’s not just about salvaging a season-it’s about figuring out what’s next.