Last Season's Hurdles for Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson's last season proved to be a challenging one, with a severe shoulder injury severely curtailing his contributions. The injury limited Watson to just six games and necessitated surgery. This obstacle played a significant role in the fluctuations and inconsistencies seen in the quarterback position throughout the season.
During the season, the Browns experienced seven quarterback changes and had four different starters. Among these were Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Joe Flacco, each of whom started as QB1 at different points. Despite the ongoing instability, each quarterback managed to record at least one win, providing some bright spots in an otherwise turbulent season.
A History of Inconsistency
Watson's two seasons with the Cleveland Browns have both been marred by limited playtime, with the quarterback appearing in only six games in each season. His performance, under these circumstances, has fallen short of the high expectations set upon his arrival. However, optimism abounds surrounding his anticipated return for the 2024 season.
GM Andrew Berry's Update
General Manager Andrew Berry recently provided an important update on Watson's recovery process. According to Berry, Watson is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and has shown impressive performance during the spring minicamp.
"First and foremost, Deshaun has really worked his tail off during the rehabilitation process over the last several months," Berry stated. "He's really actually ahead of schedule. He's really chomping at the bit to take the governor off, so to speak, but really he's had a really nice spring."
Promising Signs for 2024
The signs emerging from Watson's rehabilitation and spring performance are indeed promising. Berry elaborated, "He's thrown the ball well. Did a really nice job during our 7-on-7 and team periods during this veteran minicamp. So, we're excited as he gets into training camp and gets the pads on."
According to Berry, "Honestly, if you didn’t know he got hurt last year, you really wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. We’re very excited once camp starts."
Looking Ahead to a Pivotal Season
The 2024 season shapes up to be critical both for Watson and the Cleveland Browns. The team fervently hopes that Watson will bring stability to the quarterback position and lead them to the playoffs. With early indicators from his rehabilitation and spring performance looking promising, fans in Cleveland are hopeful for a more stable and effective presence under center.
As training camp approaches, the buzz surrounding Watson's return continues to grow. A fully recovered Watson could be the key to the Browns achieving their postseason aspirations and finally meeting the lofty expectations placed upon them.