Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

QB Deshaun Watson not on Browns' initial 53-man roster

Originally posted on Pro Football Rumors
By Sam Robinson | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 4:24 PM ET

The roster-cutdown deadline is less than an hour away, but some teams have turned in their test answers early. Here are the Cleveland Browns’ moves to pare their roster to 53 players:

Released:

K Dustin Hopkins
WR Diontae Johnson
DT Sam Kamara
DE Julian Okwara
RB Trayveon Williams

Waived:

WR Chase Cota
WR Kaden Davis
S Christopher Edmonds
CB LaMareon James
WR Kisean Johnson
RB Ahmani Marshall
T Kilian Zierer

Waived/injured:

WR Cade McDonald
RB Pierre Strong

Activated from active/PUP list:

DT Michael Hall

Placed on IR-designated for return:

LB Winston Reid

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

QB Deshaun Watson

Placed on reserve/NFI list:

WR David Bell

This is effectively a procedural move involving Watson, who has long been expected to be sidelined throughout the 2025 season due to two Achilles surgeries. The long-embattled quarterback had resumed throwing early this offseason, but he will not be activated. Long hovering off the Browns’ QB radar — as they conducted a rare four-man competition, one that has since lost Kenny Pickett (via trade) — Watson is not expected to play for the Browns again. Although, the team (via another restructure) still has the high-priced passer tied to a $35.97M cap number.

Watson and Bell must miss at least four games apiece, while Hall will avoid such a delay. The 2024 second-round pick suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, and while he did not participate in training camp, this activation signals the Browns expect the Ohio State product to be ready at some point in the first four weeks.

A UDFA who started three games as a rookie last season, Reid will count toward Cleveland’s eight in-season injury activations. The Browns stashing the off-ball linebacker on the IR-return list will cut that total down to seven, whether Reid is activated this season or not. Placing Reid on IR now certainly points to activation plans, however.

Many of these players will likely be brought back on practice-squad deals, as 16 of those spots are open to non-international players annually. Davis, a rookie UDFA, will be added to the Browns’ P-squad if he clears waivers, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes.

Hopkins, 34, has been the Browns’ kicker for the past two seasons. The team extended him on a three-year, $15.9M deal in 2024, but the Browns are going with former UDFA Andre Szmyt at kicker. Szmyt kicked a 37-yard game-winning field goal to beat the Rams during the Browns’ preseason slate, making all three of his field goal tries.

Cutting Hopkins — who was just 18-of-27 last season — will bring a $4.91M dead money charge (spread over two years) for the Browns. A former Syracuse kicker, Szmyt signed with the Browns in June; he has not attempted a regular-season kick yet. Hopkins’ slump led to the Browns making him a healthy scratch in Week 15, and while he returned to duty a week later, Cleveland has found a replacement.

This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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