Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Deshaun Watson is putting in the work early and making sure he’s in sync with his top target as the Cleveland Browns ramp up their offseason program.
Watson was recently spotted training in Florida with No. 1 wideout Jerry Jeudy, continuing a trend that’s been building for weeks. According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the sessions aren’t new — the two have been getting together periodically since mid-February as Watson focuses on conditioning and sharpening his timing.
“Jeudy, who finished second on the team with 50 catches for 602 yards, posted a photo on his Instagram story Wednesday of him and Watson before their workout,” Cabot said. “But it’s not the first time they’ve trained together this offseason in Florida, where Watson has been conditioning and throwing since mid-February. They’ve gotten together down there occasionally over the past few months to get their timing and chemistry down for the season.”
The extra work comes at a pivotal moment for Watson, who is firmly in the mix for the starting job heading into 2026. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam recently offered an encouraging update, pointing to Watson’s physical condition and the opportunity in front of him under new head coach Todd Monken.
“Now Deshaun has a great chance — a fresh start, an offensive-minded coach who has, in his past, been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful,” Haslam said. “So Deshaun has a great chance to do that now. We talked to him the other day — he said he weighed less than he had in several years, was in great shape. He’ll be here on April 7 when we start, and let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”
Deshaun Watson Has Final Year to Prove Himself
The Browns traded for Watson in 2022, and for the most part, it has not panned out for Cleveland. Watson has started just 19 games — going 9-10 in those starts — and has yet to display the Pro Bowl level of talent he showed with the Houston Texans.
Watson missed all of last season after two Achilles surgeries. It led Haslam to call the blockbuster move for Watson a “big swing and miss” ahead of last season. He backtracked on that comment a bit at the NFL owners meeting.
“Like most things we say, we could probably articulate a little bit better,” Haslam said. “But listen, it’s not for lack of effort, OK? I mean, I don’t think anybody in our organization would question (Watson’s) effort, his toughness, everything he’s put in the job. The reality is he’s had major injuries: his shoulder (and) torn the Achilles tendon twice. So he’s been really ravaged by injuries and that, along with the 11-game suspension, has kept him from playing.”
Shedeur Sanders Still in Mix for Browns
The Browns’ quarterback battle is increasingly shaping up as a two-man race between Watson and Shedeur Sanders heading into the offseason program and training camp. And one thing working firmly in Sanders’ favor: he’s been consistently present inside the building.
“It’s too early to really evaluate (Sanders) other than it’s been great that he’s been in the building,” Monken said. “It’s refreshing to see a player that recognizes where he’s at and where he wants to get to.”
Sanders took over down the stretch as a rookie, starting the final seven games and going 3-4 while throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The numbers were uneven, but flashes of playmaking ability and toughness gave the Browns something to build on.
With Cleveland coming off a 5-12 season, Monken has made it clear he’d prefer clarity at quarterback sooner rather than later. For now, Sanders is doing what he can to stay front of mind.