Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s recovering from right shoulder surgery that ended his 2023 season, said Tuesday that he plans to participate in organized team activities on some level but that his focus is on training camp.
“I feel good. Really confident,” he said about the health of his shoulder. “Just making sure I don’t do anything extra to harm it. Doctors told me don’t rush back and I’ll be exactly where I want to be, even better than before.”
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Watson had season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder after suffering an injury in a win over the Baltimore Ravens. After the game, he told the Browns medical staff that he felt discomfort in his right shoulder after a hit in the first half.
An MRI the next day revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his shoulder. An additional MRI also showed a high ankle sprain.
At the time, Watson was expected to fully recover by the start of the 2024 season. On Tuesday, the Browns quarterback was noncommittal about when exactly he’d be full go.
“The plan is to come back whenever they feel like and I feel like we’re ready,” he said. “There’s no timeline or date that I’m going to be 100 percent. Really dependent on each landmark we hit.”
Watson said he’s currently “throwing full speed” with no limitations in motion or velocity. He said some days he’s making 40 throws, some days 60.
“Right now, it’s about load management,” he said. “Not doing too much, even though I probably could (do more). Just staying on the right track.”
Watson is set to enter his third season with the Browns since being traded to Cleveland by the Houston Texans leading up to the 2022 season. Last year he played in six games, missing time with the right shoulder ailment. He finished the season throwing for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
Watson said he's "throwing full speed," no limitations with motion or velocity. Said some days he's making 40 throws, some 60, and following doctors' lead. Said "the plan" is to participate in OTAs (late May/early June) on some level but the focus is on training camp.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) April 16, 2024
Watson says his rehab is on track
Though Watson seemed at ease and confident that his rehab is on schedule when he spoke with reporters Tuesday, there are still layers of mystery surrounding the injury and Watson’s comeback. That Watson stressed “load management” and not wanting to risk anything underscores the severity of the injury. The Browns know they’re only going to reach their lofty goals if Watson is fully healthy and able to play at a consistently high level in the fall, so not much from a gradual return to throwing this spring is going to provide full answers.
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In a public appearance earlier this month, Watson said he would be ready for the start of the regular season. That was notable but markedly different from Browns coach Kevin Stefanski saying in January that he was “confident (Watson) would be ready to roll in the spring.” So while Watson addressed the lack of a clear timeline Tuesday, that he’s on a throwing schedule and planning to do at least some throwing later in the team’s offseason program can be taken as signs that he’s on track to be ready this summer. — Zac Jackson, Browns writer
Browns focused on what’s ahead with Watson
Probably the most interesting tidbits to come from Watson’s news conference Tuesday were that he doesn’t know when he suffered the injury and that Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the renowned orthopedic surgeon who performed the surgery, has told Watson that he usually treats this injury in baseball players, not football players. But the Browns and Watson are focused on what’s ahead, not what happened last September when Watson dealt with what the team said was a separate shoulder injury.
The Browns don’t begin organized team activity practices until late May, and though nothing about this is ideal for Cleveland or Watson, he’ll be around the team and continuing to rehab. If he’s not cleared for a full throwing and participation program until training camp begins in late July, that’s fine — as long as he remains on schedule and can fully rehabilitate the injury. — Jackson
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(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)