Why Browns aren't making predictions about recovery of Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke with reporters at a predraft news conference on Thursday and stopped short of guaranteeing that quarterback Deshaun Watson will be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. 

"We feel really good about it," Berry said about Watson's recovery from what's been called an "uncommon shoulder" procedure, as shared by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I’m not going to make any predictions, just because you just never know."

Watson appeared in only six games this past season before he was shut down with an injury to his throwing shoulder that left him needing surgery. 

He missed the first 11 contests of the previous campaign while serving a suspension related to accusations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions, and he essentially sat out the entire 2021 season while attempting to force a trade from the Houston Texans. 

Berry revealed on Thursday that Watson "was throwing up to 40 yards" as part of his recovery this week. 

"He’s in a pretty good spot," Berry added about Watson. "Again, I don’t want to put the cart in front of the horse. But he’s progressing as appropriate. We’re really, really pleased with the work that he’s put in and really pleased with how the shoulder’s responding. But we’re still in the middle of a rehab process, so we know that it can take different left and right turns, but we’re pretty optimistic in terms of what we’ve seen so far."

The Browns gave Watson a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract to convince him to join them from the Texans in March 2022. 

While he's only played in 12 meaningful games since that transaction, veteran Joe Flacco went 4-1 as a starter en route to guiding the 2023 Browns to a postseason berth. Somewhat controversially, Cleveland replaced Flacco with Jameis Winston last month. 

The Browns also replaced offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with Ken Dorsey this offseason largely because it's hoped Dorsey's experience with dual-threat quarterbacks will help Watson find the form that made him a three-time Pro Bowl selection with Houston. 

For that to occur, Watson will have to stay healthy and play in more than a half-dozen games during a season for the first time with the Browns. 

Otherwise, Cleveland could consider moving on from the 28-year-old next winter.