Deshaun Watson’s comeback, on the field and in the locker room, could go either way. After all, he was absent for over a year. But a former Super Bowl champion has predicted that the nature of Watson’s upcoming season with the Browns depends on his play.

In a conversation with Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin, Mark Schlereth said that Watson deserves a second chance, and he must play well to ease back in.

“The locker room can be the most forgiving place on the planet, and so, if he plays well, it's easy to let that stuff go,” Schlereth said on 92.3 The Fan. “There are some guys who have all kinds of off-the-field issues and problems, and they can use the football field as a sanctuary.”

Watson’s stint with the Browns has been controversial. At his prime in 2020, the veteran quarterback amassed 4,823 yards and threw 33 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. 

The following year, however, he was suspended for 11 games without pay and fined $5 million for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Watson was traded from the Houston Texans in 2022. 

But his performances with the Browns did not live up to his hype. In three seasons, he threw just 19 TDs and 17 INTs for 3,365 yards.

Watson has never played in all 17 games for the Browns, and in October 2024, he sustained a season-ending injury. 

He ruptured his right Achilles, injured it again in 2025, and only recently has been cleared to play. 

The QB should consider taking Schlereth’s advice, who has dealt with 29 career surgeries. 

Schlereth Outlines Watson's Priority For Him

Schlereth played in the NFL for 12 seasons for two franchises, the Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders) and the Denver Broncos.

While talking on 92.3 The Fan, former offensive lineman turned FOX Sports analyst, said that “the best players get to play.”

He advised that Deshaun Watson should solely focus on his game. 

“He looks like he’s back for all these injuries and he’s throwing the ball well. The biggest thing is gonna become how you operate, essentially, from the neck up.”

Watson’s time with the Browns is coming to an end this year. He had signed a guaranteed five-year contract worth $230 million, which expires in 2026. He is currently battling Shedeur Sanders for the QB1 position and appears to have the upper hand. 

Insider Mary Kay Cabot revealed that Watson “has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1,” in her report published on April 29. 

If this development were true, then Watson has one last chance to fare well in the Browns. Whether he does or not remains to be seen.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi