After an injury-filled 2023, missing half of 2022 and missing 2021 entirely, it feels like it’s been forever since we saw Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson at 100-percent on a football field. So how does he feel heading into Week 1 of the 2024 season in just five months?
Per Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan, Watson declared during a media session today that his surgically-repaired shoulder is “great” and that he will be ready for Week 1.
“Shoulder is great. I’m gonna be ready Week 1 for sure,” Watson said, drawing a roar of applause.
“Shoulder is great. Be ready by week 1 for sure” #Browns QB Deshaun Watson pic.twitter.com/m7skSxf6G4
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) April 4, 2024
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Deshaun Watson was limited to just six games in 2023 due to the aforementioned shoulder injury. He finished the year with 1,115 passing yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions.
However, Joe Flacco came off the couch and joined the Browns mid-season, enjoying a five-game stretch where he completed 60.3-percent of his passes for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to winning Comeback Player of the Year honors.
The Browns went on to lose in the Wild Card round of the playoffs and Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Colts at the start of free agency. As a result, the ball is back in Watson’s hands for next season.
In the two seasons since joining the Browns in a trade with the Texans, Watson has played in just 12 games. He has three years left on his contract though, and the cap hit is so high that the team can’t cut him and will be hard-pressed to trade him if they ever plan on cutting their losses.
Will this be the year that Deshaun Watson finally returns to Pro Bowl form?