Browns announce QB Deshaun Watson will not play in season opener

Part of the uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson this season is due to the fact that he just underwent shoulder surgery.

There’s more to the Watson puzzle than his health, but we were reminded on Tuesday that Watson is still recovering from an injury that ended his 2023 season. The Browns announced that Watson will not play in Saturday’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

Given Watson’s struggles during his first two seasons with the Browns and his injury concerns, he seems like a prime candidate to play as much as possible in the preseason. The Browns are still concerned about bringing him back. Watson did miss a day of training camp.

“He did a great job the whole day he pitched,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday via the team’s website.

Jameis Winston will start for the Browns. Stefanski said starters will play about 10 plays against the Packers.

Watson is expected to play in the preseason. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Baltimore Ravens on November 12 and underwent surgery. It was Watson’s second straight disappointing Cleveland season after the team traded multiple draft picks for him and gave him a guaranteed $230 million contract.

This is a crucial season for Watson, and it will be at least a week before we see him on the field in 2024.