The Cleveland Browns are fresh off a 11-5 record and a postseason appearance last year that saw them fall in the wild-card round to the Houston Texans. They will enter 2024 ready to show out and push the envelope even further than they did this past season.
Cleveland suffered multiple injuries across their roster last season that impacted how the year ended. But heading into the new season, the Browns are hopeful for better health going forward.
One of the biggest questions on the roster is the status of starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson has been rehabbing from a shoulder injury that forced him to end his 2023 season early. Browns general manager Andrew Berry provided a massive update on the injury status of Watson as we head into the middle of the summer.
BEREA, OHIO – JUNE 05: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during an OTA offseason workout at their CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 5, 2024 in Berea, Ohio. Watson seems to…
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images
“First and foremost, Deshaun has really worked his tail off during the rehabilitation process over the last several months,” Berry said during a Monday appearance on The Insiders. “He’s really actually ahead of schedule. He’s really chomping at the bit to take the governor off so to speak, but really he’s had a really nice spring. He’s thrown the ball well. Did a really nice job during our 7-on-7 and team periods during this veteran minicamp. So, we’re excited as he gets into training camp and gets the pads on. He’s making excellent progress. Honestly if you didn’t know he got hurt last year, you really wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. We’re very excited once camp starts.”
Watson has been at the center of off-the-field criticism since he returned to football two years ago and his on-the-field play hasn’t helped. The former Pro Bowler has struggled in his first two years with the Browns, but the team is hoping that 2024 will be the year that he puts it all together. If he is indeed ahead of schedule, that should be music to the ears of the entire coaching staff. They need Watson to be healthy and ready to go if the Browns are going to reach their goals of winning a Super Bowl this season.
This past season, Watson was limited to just six games due to the injury. However, the Browns were 5-1 when he started for them this season despite his lack of impressive statistics. Watson threw for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions last season.
He will need to be much better this year but will have more weapons to throw the ball too. Cleveland traded for former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy this offseason to pair him with Amari Cooper. The future looks bright with the Browns, but the health of Watson is at the forefront of everything the team does going forward.
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Source : Newsweek