Browns Deshaun Steps Out Of Boot And Throwing In Injury Update

The last few years of the Deshaun Watson era have been gutted with injury issues. First, a shoulder ailment sidelined him a chunk of the 2023 season and then an Achilles tear ended last season's campaign early. 

Watson re-tore his Achilles back in January which has now put his status for 2025 up in the air. That development has also led to some calamity in the quarterback room as the Cleveland Browns try to move forward. 

They have signed Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett who will likely occupy the top two spots on the depth chart with Watson out. Cleveland turned around to the draft and picked up both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

So there are now several bodies vying for positioning on the depth chart and that situation has garnered plenty of attention, especially with Sanders in the mix. Meanwhile, Watson is working hard to make an eventual return happen. 

He took a major step in recent weeks with his boot now off his foot. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watson has been at the team facility throwing to receivers. 

That would include the team's No. 1 pass catcher in Jerry Jeudy and reserve receiver David Bell. Bell has dealt with his own recovery process after dislocating his hip against the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. 

Watson has two years left on the massive contract extension he signed with the Browns after the team traded for him though he may only end up playing one more of those seasons because of this injury. 

While the exact timeline of his return is not certain just yet, it is a positive sign that Watson has gotten out of the boot and getting back to some activities on the field.