Will Deshaun Watson Play For Browns This Season?

Deshaun Watson was visible on sidelines during Browns Week 12 game.

Will Deshaun Watson Play For Browns This Season?

Shedeur Sanders with Deshaun Watson (Image via Sleeper NFL/X)

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On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns started Shedeur Sanders against the Las Vegas Raiders. Sanders, who’s the 42nd different starting quarterback since the team rejoined the league back in 1999, managed to defeat the scuffling Raiders 24-10 at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada.

In the matchup between two struggling bottom teams, the Browns came through with a better offensive output. Sanders threw one touchdown and an interception each while completing 11-of-20 for 209 yards. RB Quinshon Judkins rushed down the ground twice in the first quarter to give the Browns an early helping hand.

Meanwhile, in other news, the Browns’ sidelines featured a name that fans haven’t heard much this year. Deshaun Watson was spotted mentoring Shedeur Sanders from the sidelines in a khaki green team sweatshirt and black sunglasses.

It was earlier reported by Mary Kay Cabot ahead of the game that Watson may be traveling all the way down to Sin City for the first time this season.

It was also reported that Watson may return from the Physically Unable to Perform list, where he has been placed since the start of the season. Watson has not been on the field since he sustained an Achilles injury last season and was carted off the field. Cabot added that while there’s some talk in the organization about not letting Watson start practicing until next April during the offseason, Watson is reportedly getting well enough to be out of the PUP window earlier than that.

Once that window opens, the Browns will have 21 days to activate Watson; otherwise, he must return to the PUP list and miss the rest of the season.

Whether they ultimately take that step remains uncertain. However, it wouldn’t make sense for the Browns to bring Watson late in the season. In addition to being fresh off an injury, Watson is not popular among the Browns fans, especially after he was accused of s**ual harassment by multiple women.

Questions surface over Las Vegas as the stage for Deshaun Watson’s return

The choice of Las Vegas as the location for Deshaun Watson’s first game on the sidelines has received some major backlash. Former sports columnist Jason Whitlock took a jab at the disgraced quarterback’s return to the field in a road game to Sin City.

Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson (Image via Andscape)

Whitlock reposted NFL Insider Adam Schefter’s posts with a bold statement. He claimed that Watson being in Vegas is no shock and referred to the controversy from a few years ago. He alluded that things that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Free trip to Vegas. Anyone shocked Deshaun took this trip does not know Deshaun. What happens in Vegas massage parlors stays in Vegas

Jason Whitlock wrote on X

While a few were praising Watson for mentoring Sanders, a majority of users pointed out the same as Jason Whitlock.

Watson’s career dipped significantly following the allegations and the court cases. He joined the Cleveland Browns in 2022, where he first served an 11-game suspension. He played six closing games. Across four seasons, including the ongoing one, Watson has played just 19 games with injuries derailing his career in successive seasons. His trade from the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns has gone down in history as one of the worst trades ever.

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