Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
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Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on before a game against the Carolina Panthers.
Former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is back in the news, opening eyes.
Watson, currently a member of the Cleveland Browns, is also on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he recovers from a setback after surgery on a torn Achilles tendon that cost him most of the 2024 season. Many expected Watson to miss the 2025 season, too.
However, the PUP list only means he must miss four games, and Watson was recently back on the football field with Browns officials in attendance.
“Funny thing about life is. If you work hard enough it will all workout,” renowned QB coach Quincy Avery posted on X on August 27, along with a video of Watson moving around the “pocket” and throwing.
This is another significant moment for Watson this week.
He also sold his 5,264-square-foot, five-bathroom, five-bedroom Houston mansion after initially listing it eight years ago but dropping his asking price from 1.8 million to $1.65 million, per Realtor.com’s Kelsi Karruli on August 27, who noted the selling price remains unknown.
Over four years after his last snap with the Texans, Watson worked out with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry, and head coach Kevin Stefanski watching.
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the ex-Texans star, Watson, is “coming along.”
Ex-Texans QB Deshaun Watson ‘Looks Good’ in Workout
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watches on the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Browns “liked what they saw” and are “encouraged about Watson’s health. That has set them up for a major decision that could have a ripple effect around the league, including the Texans.
“He looks good. You would never know that he had re-torn Achilles surgery in January. Right now, he has to be on PUP for four more games. But once you start to get into late October, they’re going to have to make a decision,” Cabot said on “The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima” on August 28. “Do they think about activating him, or does he remain on PUP for the rest of the season? So, this is going to be something to watch as we approach the trade deadlines.”
Watson, the No. 12 overall pick of the 2017 draft, played in seven games in 2024.
He threw for 1,148 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on 63.4% completion. It is a stark contrast from Watson’s production with the Texans, but it fits his first two Browns campaigns.
The videos of Deshaun Watson truly mean nothing since field vision has been his biggest issue the past 3 years
He’s not an All-Pro coming off injury
He’s a guy that won 5 games in the last 2 years & posted a 23.4 QBR last season #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/iQBvbCAwFU
— Mac🦬 (@tha_buffalo) August 28, 2025
Of course, Watson’s on-field performance is only part of his polarizing status. Watson also remains controversial for the multiple sexual assault charges that he faced during his tenure with the Texans. The three-time Pro Bowler settled many of those cases out of court.
Deshaun Watson-Fueled Trade Scenario Could Shake Up League (Again)
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
GettyDeshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during warmups before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Pressed with the results of a poll that showed 86.9% of fans did not want Watson to start another game for the Browns, Cabot presented the idea that he could return to his Texans form.
“Would some of those fans say the same thing if they it knew that, perhaps, they could get – and I don’t know if they could get this – the version of Deshaun Watson that beat Baltimore, in Baltimore, a couple of years ago? If they got that guy, would they want him? Do they just not want the guy that they saw last year? Do they not want the guy that comes with the baggage? So, it’s kind of a nuanced conversation,” Cabot said.
“If you could get the version of Deshaun Watson who could win football games for you – and I don’t know if that version even exists anymore. But I will say that he does look pretty good in these workouts right now.”
Cabot presented the idea that Watson could allow the Browns to trade starter Joe Flacco. They would rely on Dillon Gabriel as QB1, with the former Texans passer as his top backup. Rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders would be on hand as the emergency QB3.
“I think that there’s just a larger discussion here that is pretty complicated,” Cabot said.
Notably, C.J. Stroud is on the Texans (and poised to cash in with a historic extension) thanks to how Watson’s story played out, adding another layer to the discussion around the veteran.