Four years into his Cleveland Browns stint, Deshaun Watson is still fighting the same battle. With Achilles and shoulder injuries derailing his career, the veteran has finally opened up about his injuries ahead of the 2026 season.

“I’m two years removed from my shoulder injury, really three years, ’23,” said Watson on Saturday before a training camp practice. “Coming back in ’24, I was only about seven or eight months removed from that injury — wasn’t where I was comfortable with it — but you know when they’re investing, you’ve got to play, you’ve got to perform. But you can’t make that an excuse.”

Since the Browns signed him in 2022, Watson has played only 19 of the team's 68 games. During that span, the Browns have won just nine games and lost 10 with him as the starter.

A double Achilles injury in 2024 and 2025 and a surgically repaired throwing shoulder in 2023 have significantly derailed his career.

Despite those setbacks, Watson expressed during the conversation, that he remains confident this season will mark his comeback.

“Right now, sitting here talking to you guys, I feel very comfortable, very strong, fluid. Now it’s just building trust with the receivers and let it rip. That’s the biggest thing and don’t be afraid of it,” added Watson in the same presser.

This year during OTAs and minicamp, Deshaun Watson started strong, outpacing his rival Shedeur Sanders. Many believed he was certain to win the starting job, but once training camp began, the equation changed quickly.

Watson finished the first week of training camp with a 64.4% completion rate, three touchdowns, and a staggering six interceptions.

Meanwhile, Sanders posted a 70% completion rate with four touchdowns and just one interception. Even Dillon Gabriel appears to be having better numbers than him.

While he is confident about this season, his training camp performance says otherwise. Despite that, the Browns owner has not ruled him out yet.

Jimmy Haslam clears his thoughts on Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns absorbed Deshaun Watson's $230 million contract, but the returns have been disappointing.

Last year, owner Jimmy Haslam admitted the deal was a swing-and-miss. However, this season, something appears to have changed.

On Day 3 of training camp, Haslam was asked whether the Browns were considering keeping Deshaun Watson after his contract expires, to which he gave a straightforward answer.

“I think there’s all kinds of possibilities out there,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told the media after Day 3 training camp. “So yes, but here again, we got to get through practice. I think our quarterbacks will play in the exhibition games. That’s obviously Todd’s [Monken] call.”

Watson is set to hit free agency next season, and if he fails to perform this year, it could mark the end of his NFL career.

While Jimmy Haslam says nothing is decided yet, the outlook appears increasingly grim.

Share your thoughts on whether Deshaun Watson will earn the QB1 role.

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar