Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski revealed on Monday that the team will not open quarterback Deshaun Watson’s 21-day practice window this week, putting Watson’s comeback on hold as he continues rehab from a twice-repaired right Achilles.
Watson originally tore his right Achilles in Week 7 of the 2024 season and underwent immediate surgery; an MRI after a follow-up exam then revealed a re-rupture that required a second operation in January 2025.
A player on reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP/IR) can't return to practice until the team opens a 21-day window. Once that window begins, the organization has three weeks to either activate the player to the 53-man roster or put him back on season-ending IR.
Teams may open the window only after the player has missed the minimum required games and is medically cleared to begin on-field work, a mark it appears Watson has not yet reached.
With Watson unlikely to practice before December and the depth chart already thin, the Browns are showing at least some trust in rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, potentially putting Sanders in line for real snaps sooner rather than later.
Despite boasting a 2-7 record and one of the league's worst offenses, Cleveland has been content to ride Gabriel as its starter.
Through Week 10, Gabriel sits at 869 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions - enough to keep Stefanski's confidence, even after the team's recent 27-20 loss to the New York Jets (2-7).
Meanwhile, Sanders - the team's fifth-round pick and 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner - has yet to play a regular-season snap, despite being the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
While he's remained the No. 2 quarterback, several league insiders have referenced Sanders as "expected to play at some point," even though the Browns haven't acknowledged it publicly.
The decision not to open Watson's 21-day practice window preserves the Browns' flexibility (avoiding the rush to bring back a high-investment veteran) while allowing the team to continue evaluating its younger options in Gabriel and Sanders.
Cleveland appears comfortable with its rookies for now, but whether that stance becomes permanent will depend on how Watson progresses and how Gabriel (and possibly Sanders) perform in the coming weeks.
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