The Cleveland Browns have named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback, but NFL legend Andrew Whitworth has questioned the decision.

Watson’s injury history has limited his availability for the Browns. He is entering the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract and faces immense pressure to stay healthy.

Speaking on a recent edition of Fitz & Whit, Whitworth compared Watson’s 19 starts since 2020 with the 18 games he had played before retiring after the 2021 season:

“I retired in ’21 after the Super Bowl, right? So, since the 2020 season, Deshaun Watson has started 19 games. I started 18 during that same amount of time. So I’ve been retired for 4 years, alright? And he’s played one more game than me since I retired. This is my fifth year. So that’s how much football he’s played. I mean, if you’re a Browns fan, you probably had to get reminded at times that he’s still on the team and he’s still getting paid.”

Whitworth’s comparison highlights just how little Watson has played in recent years, raising questions about the Browns’ decision to make him QB1.

Browns' Deshaun Watson decision comes with injury concerns

The Browns are betting on Watson despite his limited availability over the past few seasons.

He was suspended for most of 2022, played only six games in 2023 before a shoulder injury ended his season. He then started seven games in 2024 before suffering a ruptured Achilles. Another Achilles injury kept him out throughout 2025.

That history makes the Browns’ decision particularly important. Watson is entering the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract, and Cleveland needs him healthy and performing at a high level.

Written by

Sayantan