Browns, Shedeur Sanders receive a troubling update on Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns have an incredible drama going on regarding their quarterbacks. They have four active QBs on the roster, including Shedeur Sanders, and have one with a huge contract, fully guaranteed in Deshaun Watson. Though Watson is injured, a new update on his well-being has been revealed.

Mary Kar Cabot of cleveland.com reported that Watson “could be ready to practice by October, but it remains to be seen if the Browns would even think of activating him that soon after his second Achilles surgery,” Cabot stated. “So, I think there’s some thought, Deshaun is optimistic that he can do that. He’s throwing the ball now to some receivers in the building.”

She went to explain that it’s a longshot to see Watson playing in the upcoming 2025 NFL season. The thing is that Watson’s contract is an absolute whirlwind. Not only is it fully guaranteed, but it has an interesting clause that could change everything.

There is an insurance policy on Watson’s deal

If Watson is not deemed as physically unable to play, the Browns could recoup a huge part of the salary and cap space. Watson has been recovering from a two-time torn Achilles tendon. However, if the quarterback is medically cleared, this could change the landscape in Cleveland.

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, if Watson “gets a clean bill of health, that’s going to complicate Cleveland’s plan this year. They’d love for him not to play,” Florio said. “They have an insurance policy if he’s unable to play because of his twice-torn Achilles tendon. They’d get back a lot of cash, they’d recover a lot of cap space, and they don’t really need him. They’ve got four quarterbacks.” Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are those signal-callers.

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This will go down infamously as one of the worst contracts in NFL history

After a tumultous exit from the Houston Texans where he was in the middle of legal battles and injuries, the Browns shockingly gave Watson a 5-year, fully guaranteed $230 million with $46 million in salary each year. After that, they have restructured Watson’s contract twice.

Now, it’s in Cleveland’s best financial interests that Watson is not deemed physically able to compete. In the sporting department, Watson’s level has not been good. Watson was once touted as a prodigy, but his career has derailed drastically in the last few years.