As the 21-day practice window for Deshaun Watson is nearing its end, the Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski have yet to confirm if the QB will become an active member of the roster.

But there are only two games left in the 2025 season, and a bigger decision to make. However, Browns insider and journalist Zac Jackson didn't really have a positive projection.

A Tough Break for Deshaun Watson

In a Monday post on X, Jackson stated that, realistically, the Browns QB didn’t stand a chance to play. "My guess is the Browns will shut Watson down for the season," wrote Jackson.

Deshaun Watson had signed a five-year deal for $233 million. But he has played only 19 games in four years and is still recovering from his second Achilles tear.

Jimmy Haslam had called the former Houston Texan star's trade to the Browns a “big swing and a miss.”

With a salary cap of $80 million, his contract is intact only till 2026. Haslam seems to be paying a high price for choosing Deshaun Wason after admitting that they are disappointed with him.

Earlier in March, Haslam said, “We gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole." Besides Deshaun Watson, the Browns currently have two rookie QBs on thier hands, neither has solidified themselves as a reliable starter yet.

Browns’ Quarterback Issue

Shedeur Sanders, the current starter, has split audiences and experts with his plays. Sanders has shown flashes of brilliance, like completing 23 of 42 passes across 364 yards and scoring four total touchdowns against the Titans.

However, he's also 1-4 so far in the season. Although former player Joe Thomas has claimed Sander is the “franchise guy,” journalist Jake Trotter vehemently disagreed.

Dilon Gabriel has also spent time bench thanks to an injury. While he does have7 TDs in five games, he's also lost all five of those games.

Back in November, Jackson reported that the Deshaun Watson situation would cost the Browns moving forward. “With the only real alternative being to continue to restructure the deal, keep Watson on the team and push big cap hits even further to the future to basically halve the 2026 number,” he wrote for The Athletic. 

“It seems inevitable that the Browns will officially cut ties with a post-June 1 designation early next year, which would put his dead-money number for 2026 in the range of $70 million to $80 million after whatever insurance credit the team receives,” he added.

Big changes seem imminent for the Browns. According to Jackson, Deshaun Watson’s status should be cleared by February. 

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi