How Deshaun Watson will help Shedeur Sanders on the sidelines against the Raiders on his first road trip of the season
LAS VEGAS – Deshaun Watson will make his first road trip of the season and will be on the sideline to help Shedeur Sanders in his NFL debut here against the Raiders, a league source told cleveland.com.
Watson, who is recovering from his Achilles repair, is not only traveling to help Sanders, but is finally healthy enough to be on the sideline during a game.
He is currently on reserve/physically unable to perform, and the Browns can open his 21-day practice window at any time. Watson posted training videos of himself on his social media accounts, stepping back with his usual agility and throwing the ball.
He said he hopes to come back stronger than ever after surgery to repair the fractured shoulder in 2023 and two Achilles operations. The organization plans to wait until the offseason program in April to allow Watson to start practicing, but he’s doing well enough that they can open the window soon.
When they do, they have 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains on PUP for the remainder of the season.
In addition to progressing well in his rehabilitation, Watson has been a huge help to Sanders and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel this season in the meeting rooms.
This week, when Sanders took his first reps with the starting offense, Watson helped him learn the game plan and feel comfortable with what he will execute on Sunday. Watson has also helped Gabriel on the sideline during home games, but this is his first trip with the team since traveling to Carolina for joint practice with the Panthers. But a lot of it was so he could visit his surgeon.
Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave noted last month how Watson helped Gabriel during games.
“I’m trying to take myself out of the equation – I don’t have to be out there hovering over them… We miss him on the road,” he said. “It’s great to have his presence on the sidelines of our young group.”
He revealed what Watson was doing behind the scenes of his rehab.
“I see him in the weight room all the time doing box jumps and doing all the exercises, things they put them through before his Achilles,” Musgrave said. “And then he throws a few passes. I know sometimes when we meet or when we’re doing something else in the afternoon, he looks like he’s working like crazy.”
Is it fascinating to wonder what he might have been left with after surgeries to repair his twice fractured shoulder and Achilles tendon? The most recent surgery took place on January 10 to repair the Achilles tendon lost last season against the Bengals on October 20 at Huntington Bank Field.
“Yeah, he’s definitely been through a lot (with the surgeries),” Musgrave said. “I know he wants to play a lot of football again. He feels like he still has a lot of tread left on his tires.”
Acquired in a trade with the Texans in 2022 for a total of five draft picks — including three first-round picks — Watson went 9-10 with the Browns after signing a blockbuster five-year extension worth a guaranteed $230 million. It was the first fully guaranteed deal in NFL history and made waves with other club owners.
In March, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam described the Watson deal as “a big blow and a bust,” but he remained on good terms with the three-time Pro Bowler, even attending his July wedding to Jilly Anais.
The Browns fully expect Watson to be with the team in 2026, the final year of his contract.
In the meantime, the Browns have appreciated his help with their young QBs and expect him to be valuable to Sanders in his debut.
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