Deshaun Watson has a point to prove. In the final year of his Cleveland Browns contract, Watson is leaving no stone unturned in getting the QB1 role back, and his recent post on Instagram emphasized the same.

As players began their off-season break, Watson returned to the Browns' training camp.

He posted a video of his workout and added the following caption on Instagram:

"No shortcuts. Just work!" Watson wrote on Instagram.

This is just his most recent update. Watson cut short his vacation in Europe to return to Cleveland. And he brought his quarterbacks coach, Quincy Avery, and his physical therapist, Billy Voltaire, along with him.

And the reason behind this extra off-season work goes to Watson's injury history. He hasn’t played a game since October 2024. That year, he suffered the first of two consecutive ruptured Achilles injuries that wiped out his entire 2025 season. In his three years in Cleveland, Watson has only played in 19 games. 

For a quarterback who nearly reached 5000 yards in his last season with the Texans, it's a sharp drop, especially since he has just managed 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns across three seasons. That's why Deshaun is putting in the extra effort, and it's being noticed.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot reacted to Watson’s return on 92.3 The Fan and described it as a message to Cleveland Browns' new Head Coach Todd Monken.

"When they get back to camp, I do believe it's going to be a robust competition between Deshaun and Shedeur. I thought it was very significant that Deshaun came back up here to throw, to train, to show this football team and coaching staff he means business here," Cabot said on 92.3 The Fan, per J.R. DeGroote of Heavy.com.

Watson wants to look ahead

Watson enters 2026 with Sanders in competition for the privilege of starting against Jacksonville in the season opener after playing only 19 of 68 possible games in four seasons.

Watson spoke directly about his goals at the Browns’ June minicamp.

"I'm trying to play a full season, man. I'm just trying to be healthy, so I can play all 17-plus games. I don't know what's going to happen at that time," Watson said, per Daniel Oyefusi

Apart from being readily available, Watson is adopting a different mentality towards the game.

Monken and the new offensive staff are attempting to have Watson gain confidence and assume the form that made him a three-time Pro Bowler in Houston.

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar