Deshaun Watson enjoyed himself courtside on Monday ahead of the Cleveland Browns returning for voluntary workouts.
Watson was spotted sitting in the front row for Game 2 as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-105. The Browns’ quarterback was all smiles in video captured by Ashley Holder of Cleveland 19 News. It was a rare public appearance by Watson, who was accompanied by Browns receiver Jamari Thrash.
The honorary sword-puller for the evening was a far more beloved figure in Cleveland football history. Browns legend Bernie Kosar was greeted by raucous cheers.
Watson wasn’t the only Browns star with courtside access during the Cavaliers’ playoff run. Myles Garrett was a highlighted presence at Game 1, drawing the kind of crowd reaction Watson is unlikely to receive anytime soon.
Watson’s presence at Game 2 didn’t exactly inspire positivity in the comment section.
“Wonder why they don’t show him on the jumbotron. Could you even imagine how loud the boos would be?” one fan said.
“Hopefully that is the closest he gets to game action this year,” another added.
“I loathe that dude,” a third wrote. “He ruined the Browns for at least a decade.”
Deshaun Watson Has Disappointed With Browns
Watson arrived in Cleveland in 2022 via a blockbuster trade that cost the Browns three first-round picks and a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. In return, he has appeared in just 19 games.
A season-ending shoulder injury, an 11-game suspension tied to off-field misconduct allegations, and a torn Achilles in October 2024 — followed by a re-rupture during recovery — have sidelined Watson for much of his time in Cleveland. He did not take a single snap last season.
Owner Jimmy Haslam publicly acknowledged the misstep of trading for last year.
“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said.
Haslam was a bit softer this offseason in his analysis of Watson and his role moving forward.
“Deshaun has a great chance, fresh start, offensive-minded coach, who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful,” Haslam said in March. “So, Deshaun has a great chance to do that now… Let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”
Deshaun Watson Still in the Mix for a Starting Job
Despite the fan sentiment, Watson isn’t simply a sunk cost on the sideline. He is participating in voluntary workouts under first-year head coach Todd Monken and is part of the open competition for the starting role.
The Browns’ QB room currently includes Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. Monken has acknowledged that reps will not be split equally and it’s expected that Sanders enters the spring workouts as the de facto frontrunner. But Watson will be considered.
Cleveland can’t move on from Watson without taking on the full weight of his remaining guarantees, effectively locking him in for at least one more season. At this point, any meaningful production would offer at least a partial return on what has largely been a failed investment.
Whether Watson can recapture even a fraction of the form that once made him one of the NFL’s elite in Houston remains the defining question over the Browns offseason. There’s little optimism he’ll return to Pro Bowl level, but with competition looming, the quarterback picture in Cleveland will come into sharper focus.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns QB Deshaun Watson Turns Heads With Surprise Move appeared first on Heavy Sports.