Browns make massive Watson move with Sanders atop depth chart

A Wednesday report revealed that Shedeur Sanders is on track to serve as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback over fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for “the rest of the season.” 

Later in the day, the Browns made a roster move that inevitably will generate discussions among local and national media members regarding the club’s long-term future. 

Deshaun Watson takes major step toward potential return to playing

On Wednesday morning, the Browns officially designated quarterback Deshaun Watson for a return to practice. Following that decision, Cleveland will have 21 days to elevate Watson to the active roster or stash him on the physically unable to perform list for the remainder of the season.

Watson hasn’t played since he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024, and he required a second surgery on Jan. 9 of this year after he reinjured the Achilles during his recovery. A report from November indicated that Cleveland could keep Watson off the practice field until this coming January, but it now appears that he could serve as at least a QB2 for a game before Week 18 wraps up. 

The Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract after they acquired him from the Houston Texans in March 2022 via one of the most one-sided trades in NFL history. Watson has thus far made just 19 regular-season starts for the Browns, and he lost six of seven starts last season.  

Are Browns planning to play Deshaun Watson this season? 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday morning, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that Watson has been “working so hard rehabbing” throughout the campaign. According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Stefanski was asked if the Browns are planning for Watson to take snaps in games over the next month. 

“Really not my focus,” Stefanski responded. “Not his focus right this minute. His focus is putting a helmet on, shoulder pads, throwing a football.”

Gabriel went 1-5 across his first six starts with Cleveland, while Sanders has thus far gone 1-1. Sanders will start when the 3-9 Browns host the Tennessee Titans this coming Sunday, and logic suggests he’ll remain in the lineup through Week 15 unless he produces a dud against the 1-11 Titans. 

As for Watson, he and the Browns could be headed toward an ugly breakup as part of a franchise reset that may involve the club also parting ways with Stefanski. That said, such a divorce may not occur before Watson makes a return to Cleveland’s active roster.