Are Browns preparing for Deshaun Watson to play before 2025 season ends?

Almost immediately after the Cleveland Browns designated quarterback Deshaun Watson for a return to practice on Wednesday, fans and other outsiders wondered if at least some individuals within the Browns want Watson to play against an opposing defense before Week 18 of the ongoing campaign wraps up. 

On Thursday morning, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio shared how the details of the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract that Cleveland handed Watson in March 2022 could result in the 30-year-old remaining out of action on NFL Sundays until next season.

Browns have "no business reason" to play Deshaun Watson this season

"The Browns have an insurance policy that reimburses [them] for up to $44.274M of Watson’s $45M guaranteed salary, based on the twice-torn Achilles tendon he suffered in 2024. The cash — and the cap space — become critical to Cleveland’s long-term planning," Florio explained. "There’s no business reason to conclude that Watson is healthy enough to join the 53-man roster in 2025." 

Watson hasn't played since he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024. He required a second surgery this past January after he reinjured the Achilles during his recovery, and it was previously suggested that he wouldn't return to the practice field until Cleveland's offseason got underway this coming winter.

Watson has thus far made just 19 regular-season starts for the Browns and is wildly unpopular among some members of the Cleveland fan base due to the allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions that resulted in the signal-caller serving an 11-game suspension during the 2022 season. After Watson suffered his initial Achilles injury at Cleveland's Huntington Bank Field, some Browns fans cheered as he was carted into the locker room. 

Why Browns activated Deshaun Watson ahead of Christmas

The Browns have 21 days from Dec. 3 to elevate Watson to the active roster or place him on the physically unable to perform list for the remainder of the season. On the latest edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast," Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said that the team's latest Watson decision was about "rewarding him for all of his hard work and letting him have an opportunity to go out there and practice." 

A recent report indicated that the Browns want Shedeur Sanders to start over fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel through Week 18 as long as Sanders remains healthy. Cleveland went 1-1 across Sanders' first two starts. 

"He hasn’t pushed to get back on the roster, showing up with medical paperwork proving that he’s healthy and setting the stage for a potential grievance over the team’s failure to acknowledge it, choosing between putting him on the roster or releasing him," Florio said about Watson. 

Florio added that "Watson most likely will remain on the [Cleveland roster] through the completion of his contract in 2026." 

Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer also thinks Watson will be with the Browns through the start of next season. For now, Sanders is preparing to face the 1-11 Tennessee Titans this coming Sunday. What happens regarding the Browns' quarterback situation beyond that game is anyone's guess.