The Cleveland Browns have made a significant decision regarding Deshaun Watson, announcing that he will not be activated for the remainder of the 2025 season. This decision came after the expiration of his 21-day practice window, during which he remained on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
The team has opted to continue with rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel as their quarterbacks for the last two games of the regular season. This choice indicates that the Browns are not looking for veteran assistance to bolster their offensive lineup at this time.
Watson”s absence means he will miss the entire 2025 season, marking his second consecutive year without playing since entering the NFL in 2017. His situation became public just a day after he shared a video on Instagram, showcasing his workouts at the Browns” facility and suggesting that his story is still being written.
This decision follows a challenging season for the Browns at the quarterback position. They began the year with Joe Flacco as the starter before trading him to the Cincinnati Bengals midseason. Subsequently, they shifted to Gabriel, a third-round pick, and finally settled on Sanders, a fifth-round pick, for the closing games. Throughout the season, no quarterback on the roster has secured more than one victory for Cleveland.
Despite initial hopes that Watson could return this season after recovering from two consecutive Achilles injuries, those hopes have now dissipated. Reports indicate that the Browns are still considering Watson as part of their plans for the 2026 season. There is speculation that if Sanders does not prove to be a viable franchise quarterback, Watson could reclaim the starting position.
As Watson enters the final year of his contract in 2026, he will carry a salary of $46 million and a cap hit of $80.7 million, making it nearly impossible for the Browns to cut or trade him. Throughout the season, Watson has been reportedly assisting both Sanders and Gabriel behind the scenes, maintaining an active role within the team.
The trade for Watson, which required the Browns to part with three first-round draft picks and resulted in him signing the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history, has been described by co-owner Jimmy Haslam as a “big swing and miss.” Given the lackluster performance from the quarterbacks this season, his absence should not come as a surprise.
Watson”s record as a starter for the Browns stands at 9-10 over three seasons, with his last game played in October of 2024. Currently, veteran Bailey Zappe serves as the third-string quarterback behind Sanders and Gabriel.
