Deshaun Watson is excited to be back to work with the Cleveland Browns.
Watson was among the first arrivals on Monday as the Browns kicked off their offseason workouts on Monday, April 15. The Browns posted a video of Watson walking into the facility with a spring in his step.
“Glad to be back,” Watson said in the short clip with coffee and cleats in hand.
Watson has spent the majority of the last five months in Los Angeles rehabbing his shoulder. The Browns’ $230 million quarterback had surgery on November 21 to repair a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right shoulder.
The video of Watson generated some buzz in the comments section, with some good and some bad.
“Good to see you back out there DW4. Let’s have a good season,” one positive commenter wrote.
Others weren’t as happy to see Watson.
“Hasn’t led us to a playoff game…for how much money?” another commenter wrote.
Deshaun Watson is Polarizing Figure
Getty ImagesCleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson is a polarizing figure.
The comments are a reminder that Watson is a polarizing figure in Cleveland. It’s been that way since he landed in Cleveland back in 2022 via a blockbuster trade that saw the Browns give up three first-round picks for his services.
A lengthy suspension and injury issues have limited Watson to just 12 appearances with the Browns over two seasons. His play in those contests has not lived up to the expectations when the trade happened. Watson has passed for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
The Browns have maintained that they’re pleased with Watson. But general manager Andrew Berry admitted that the goal going forward is to have Watson on the field more often.
“We’d all love to have him on the field more often,” Berry said in January. “I think that’s safe to say, himself included. I do feel really good about him, happy with the progress that he’s made within our organization, both on the field and off the field, and we’re looking forward to getting him back next year. We think he’s going to have a really big year and have a ton of confidence in him as our starting quarterback.”
Deshaun Watson Confident Ahead of Return
Getty ImagesDeshaun Watson is confident he’ll be back for Week 1.
Watson showing up to the start of offseason workouts is a good sign. But he still has some ways to go before he’s looking like his old self. Watson started throwing in March and will likely be limited until at least training camp.
Watson is very confident that he’ll be ready for the start of the year.
“I’ll be better than I was before in Week 1,” Watson told reporters on April 4, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “I’m very confident in the roles of the doctors. Dr. [Neal] ElAttrache and his team, following their lead, just all the research that I’ve done. And then just my work and preparation. I’ve put my whole life into this, I want to make sure I come back even better than before.”
With Watson limited, the Browns will rely on their stable of backup passers to hold down the fort. The team signed Jameis Winston in free agency and also added former Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley. They’ll join Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is returning for his second season.
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