The Deshaun Watson saga in Cleveland, Ohio, has taken another sharp turn, and this one might be the harshest reality check yet. After two years of drama, injuries, and endless questions, it feels like the Browns and their fanbase might finally be ready to move on from the $230 million gamble that never paid off.
Deshaun Watson has been clawing his way back from an Achilles injury he first suffered in October before re-injuring it in January. The Browns wasted no time putting him on the NFL’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list to open the season, meaning he’s automatically out for at least the first four games. That doesn’t officially end his year, but it does set the stage for a heated debate about whether he’ll ever take another snap in orange and brown. It’s clear the fans don’t want him back. “I’d rather the team pay him to stay away,” wrote one on X.
The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show recently dug into the question, and let’s just say the panel wasn’t feeling optimistic. Adam “the Bull” Gerstenhaber, Jason Lloyd, and Tyvis Powell all agreed that Watson retaking the starting job this year is highly unlikely.
Lloyd doubled down, adding, “I don’t think he’s ever going to play again. They drafted two rookies, and the owner said it was a mistake. Does that sound like a team ready to put him back out on the field?” Ouch. That’s about as blunt as it gets. And honestly, it’s hard to argue when you look at the moves Cleveland has made.
Ohio Is Over Deashaun Watson
The Browns are carrying Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco as the current starter while also bringing in promising rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. On top of that, Bailey Zappe just signed onto the practice squad. That doesn’t exactly scream “we’re waiting for Deshaun.” And yet, the story isn’t over.
To his credit, Watson has been more engaged this time around during his recovery. Instead of disappearing, he’s been showing up to meetings, supporting teammates, and staying visible at the team facility. Kevin Stefanski even sounded upbeat about the quarterback’s progress, saying, “Deshaun’s doing awesome, he’s doing great. I get to watch him work out as well. I get to be in the meeting room with him every single day. So, he’s doing great.”
Mary Kay Cabot added fuel to the fire with her own report, noting Watson recently went through a throwing workout in front of GM Andrew Berry, Stefanski, and even owner Jimmy Haslam.
“What they saw was a quarterback who’s dropping back with agility and ease, and launching the ball downfield with good velocity,” Cabot said. “He looked good in the workout, and if they didn’t know any better, they never would’ve guessed that he had undergone surgery in January to repair his retorn Achilles.”
What is Next for Deashaun Watson?
So what happens if Watson declares himself healthy? That’s where the nightmare scenario comes in. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk painted the picture: “There could be a showdown in Cleveland over whether a guy is truly healthy. I’m convinced that at some point this season, Deshaun Watson is going to show up with a clean bill of health and say, ‘I’m ready to go.’ Then they’ll have three choices: put him on the roster, cut him and take a $130 million cap charge next year, or fight back and say, ‘You’re not healthy.’”
That’s the harsh truth. Watson might be ready to play, but the Browns might be ready to move on. And given everything this franchise has already been through with him, from the massive contract to the off-field controversies to the injuries, it feels like fans are already bracing for the end.
The reality? Cleveland, Ohio, doesn’t need Watson anymore. They’ve got Flacco as the veteran, two rookies waiting in the wings, and an owner who has already admitted the Watson move was a mistake. The door isn’t technically shut, but it’s hanging on one rusty hinge.
So here’s the question Browns fans have to ask themselves: if Deshaun Watson trots back onto that field in 2025, is it hope or is it déjà vu? Because for now, the harshest truth is this, Cleveland, Ohio, may have already seen its last snap with Watson under center, whether he realizes it or not.
