Cleveland Browns working out AJ McCarron, Josh Rosen amid Deshaun Watson uncertainty
The Browns are making their contingency plans as they await word on the length of suspension their star quarterback Deshaun Watson could receive for the 2022 season.
With Jacoby Brissett already in the building, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that Cleveland is bringing in former Alabama star A.J. McCarron and former UCLA star Josh Rosen in for some workouts.
“The Cleveland Browns are working out quarterbacks this week, including veterans A.J. McCarron and Josh Rosen, per sources,” tweeted Fowler. “Cleveland looking to go to training camp with four quarterbacks, with Jacoby Brissett to be the QB1 depending what happens with Deshaun Watson’s status.”
Both McCarron and Rosen came into the NFL with immense hype — the latter with more as a first round selection — but their NFL careers have derailed over recent seasons. However, they’ll both be battling for their latest opportunity against each other, and hoping the Browns choose to keep them around.
Nevertheless, time will tell if A.J. McCarron or Josh Rosen can do enough to impress in Cleveland. With so much uncertainty surrounding their quarterback situation, it could be a golden opportunity for two great quarterbacks who haven’t lived up to their NFL potential.
Former Alabama star AJ McCarron reveals health status ahead of 2022 NFL season
Moreover, its evident AJ McCarron is preparing to make a comeback to the NFL after recovering from ACL surgery. McCarron joined the Atlanta Falcons last year on a one-year contract, but suffered a season-ending ACL tear in preseason.
Earlier this offseason, McCarron spoke on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Monday, explaining that he is ready to play and in great shape.
“I feel great,” said McCarron, via AL.com. “I was blessed to have a great team around me with Dr. (Lyle) Cane, our doctor at Alabama, and Kevin Wilk, who I did a bunch of my rehab with. I got cleared at four-and-a-half months out from surgery, so I’ve just been working on the strength and getting everything back normal, and I really feel great right now.
“You never know what your future holds, what it is in this game, so I’m just ready, waiting for a call. But right now, I’m enjoying my time off and being able to be a dad and being around my three boys for the first time in a while.”
Continuing, McCarron led Alabama to back-to-back BCS national titles at Alabama in 2011 and 2012, finishing second in Heisman voting in his final year. He was drafted to the Cincinnati Bengals and spent part of his rookie year on injury reserve. His second season saw him receive the most NFL action of his career, when Andy Dalton went down with a thumb injury late in the season.
AJ McCarron went 2-1 as a starter in the 2015 season, eventually seeing the Bengals’ season end to the Pittsburgh Steelers 18-16 in the AFC Wild Card round of the playoffs. Since leaving the Bengals, McCarron has signed with the Bills, the Raiders and the Falcons — and is now a free agent.