Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, was traded by Houston two years ago. [+]By The Associated Press, 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For the Cleveland Browns, the most important lesson from the 2023 campaign was how much they were looking forward to 2024. Particularly, the part played by quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Since Houston dealt the $230 million quarterback to Cleveland on March 21, 2022, for a shopping cart full of draft selections, the quarterback has been beset by suspensions and injuries. In the 35 games the Browns have played since then, Watson has only made 12 appearances.If Watson is able to maintain his health for the entire season in 2024, that will alter. The injury-plagued Browns managed to locate enough healthy players in 2023 despite the fact that they would not make the playoffs for only the second time in 20 years.
Two distinct injuries to Watson’s right shoulder in 2023 were the issue. He had a rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder, which kept him out of almost all four of the Browns’ games in October. After missing the final nine games for the Browns due to a right shoulder injury, he made a comeback to participate in two games.
Officials from the Browns’ organization are hopeful that Watson will be ready to participate fully in the next summer sessions.
Andrew Berry, general manager of the Browns and executive vice president of football operations, stated that Deshaun is making good progress. “He is putting all of his effort into becoming well. He is progressing rather nicely. His expected time period is either typical or maybe ahead of plan. Although it’s still early, I hesitate to say this, but we are incredibly happy with the progress we’ve made thus far and are forward to welcome him back in the spring.
In the six games Watson played in 2023, the Browns prevailed five times. Among them was a November 12 victory by Cleveland over the Ravens at Baltimore, 33–31. That was most likely both the season’s high point and low point for the Browns. They defeated Baltimore in Baltimore, but in the process, Watson suffered a shattered right shoulder that necessitated surgery that ended the season.
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Joe Bitonio, a guard for the Browns, stated, “Every time it felt like he was taking a step, he got banged up or hurt.” As a starter this year, he went 4-1. Deshaun returning as our quarterback gives me a great deal of confidence that our defense will perform at the level we know and expect it to.
Join SportsMoney Playbook to receive the most recent sports news along with insight on billionaire owners, signings, gamblers, and values.Berry concurs as well. With regard to Watson’s rehabilitation, Berry remarked, “We feel really good.” “Nothing indicates that going forward, there should be any kind of restriction or anything similar.”
The Browns would be a lot closer to making the playoffs for the second straight year—something they haven’t done since 1988–89—if Watson was healthy and effective throughout the whole 2024 campaign.
Bitonio stated, “I think those guys carry on the culture. The main core of guys is going to be back.” “I believe we have a better understanding of resilience.”
Cleveland faced a year-long struggle with many major player injuries in the 2023 season. It is difficult to fathom and a sign of extreme misfortune that the Browns would have to endure the identical procedure twice in a succession.
Bitonio remarked, “Hopefully we don’t have to go through anything like that again.” “Hopefully, that’s our floor now—a playoff team with a chance to win a division and host a playoff game in the future. We had 11 wins, we made the playoffs.”
