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Cleveland Browns make final decision on Deshaun Watson for 2025 season

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones7 hours agobrianjones_93

The Cleveland Browns had made their final roster move on quarterback Deshaun Watson for the 2025 season. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Watson will remain on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, and his 2025 season is over.

Deshaun Watson was designated for a return to practice on Dec. 3. He has not played in a game since suffering an Achilles injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season. With him going back on the PUP list, Watson can no longer practice with the team.

The Browns acquired Watson in 2022 from the Houston Texans. Since joining the Browns, Watson has yet to play a full season due to injuries and a suspension he served in 2022 due to his sexual harassment allegations. In his 19 games in Cleveland, Watson has posted a 9-10 record and has thrown for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with an 80.7 passer rating.

When the Browns acquired Watson, they signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. The Browns intended to keep Watson on the roster in 2026, which is the final year of his deal.

Browns owner says the Deshaun Watson trade was a ‘swing-and-miss’

In March, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted the trade for Watson was a mistake. “We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said Monday at the league’s annual meeting, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. “We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. … [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable.”

During this year’s draft, the Browns selected two quarterbacks — Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. In 10 games with six starts, Gabriel has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. In four games with four starts, Sanders has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 815 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Watson played for the Texans from 2017 to 2021. During his time in Houston, the 30-year-old was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and led the NFL in passing yards in 2020.