Watson returns as Browns starter after two-year absence
Deshaun Watson will make his first Cleveland Browns regular-season start since October 2024 against Jacksonville, after injuries and suspension restricted his time on the field.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is set to make his first regular-season start since October 2024 when he faces the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Watson said the game represents an opportunity to demonstrate that he can still play in the NFL. The 30-year-old is entering his 10th season and the final year of his contract with Cleveland.
His return follows a serious injury absence. Watson tore his right Achilles tendon on 7 October 2024, then missed the 2025 season after re-tearing it and undergoing a second operation in January.
Suspension and injuries have limited Watson to 19 games since Cleveland acquired him from Houston in 2022 for three first-round picks and a fully guaranteed five-year, US$230 million contract. ESPN reports that his 33.1 QBR since joining Cleveland would rank last among qualifying quarterbacks.
First-year Browns coach Todd Monken selected Watson after a training-camp competition with Shedeur Sanders, who will serve as the backup. Rookie Taylen Green could also be active with a package of plays, although Monken said carrying three quarterbacks on game day is difficult.
Watson is 7-0 as a starter against Jacksonville, including an 18-13 win in Week 2 of the 2024 season, his last victory as a starter. Monken said Watson had embraced the team’s offensive approach and described the opportunity as a fresh start.
