Watson's Browns Comeback
Deshaun Watson Returns as Browns Starting Quarterback After Missing Two Seasons
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Key Points
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Watson’s return follows nearly two years away from competitive football: he first tore his Achilles during the 2024 season and then suffered a second rupture while recovering, forcing him to miss all of 2025.
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ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Cleveland could give Watson some leeway because the Browns have several young starters around him and he has not played competitive football in two years, even though the quarterback decision remains performance-based week to week.
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Watson was booed by Browns fans during a poor preseason performance against Buffalo and later acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with the criticism. He said of his wife, “She’s my biggest person of peace,” adding that she had supported him through “the last five years.”
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The pressure surrounding Watson’s comeback is tied to Cleveland’s original investment: the Browns traded three first-round picks for him in 2022 and gave him a contract containing $230 million in guaranteed money, making his final contract year a pivotal test of that decision.
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Watson and Jilly Anais began dating in 2019 and married in 2025; ahead of the Jacksonville game, she posted a photo from a Browns-themed private flight with the message “#HereFor4 … Always.”
Deshaun Watson has won the starting quarterback job for the Cleveland Browns and will return against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing the entire 2025 season due to two Achilles injuries. FanSided reports that Watson's role will be evaluated week to week based on performance, leaving the door open for Shedeur Sanders if the veteran struggles.
General manager Andrew Berry denied that ownership pushed Watson into the starting role, saying coach Todd Monken makes all lineup decisions. Watson is in the final year of his contract, but Berry has not ruled out signing him to a new deal if he plays well. ESPN reported that Cleveland may give Watson some leeway because he has not played competitive football in two years and the team has several young starters around him.
Watson Returns After Nearly Two Years Out
Watson tore his Achilles during the 2024 season and then suffered a second rupture while recovering. The two injuries kept him sidelined throughout the entire 2025 season. This Jacksonville game marks his first competitive action in nearly two years, a lengthy absence that shapes how the Browns approach his performance evaluation.
Browns' Original Investment Creates High Stakes
Cleveland's decision to start Watson carries enormous weight. In 2022, the Browns traded three first-round picks to get him and signed him to a deal with $230 million guaranteed. This final contract year is a pivotal test of whether that massive investment was worth it. The team now needs to see if Watson can justify the resources already spent.
Watson Battles Criticism and Finds Support at Home
Watson was booed by Browns fans during a poor preseason game against Buffalo. He acknowledged the difficulty of handling the criticism from the fanbase. He credited his wife, Jilly Anais Watson, with helping him cope with the pressure. "She's my biggest person of peace," Watson said, noting she had supported him through "the last five years."
Jilly Anais traveled to Jacksonville to support Watson's comeback game. The couple began dating in 2019 and married in 2025. Before the game against the Jaguars, she posted a photo from a Browns-themed private flight with the message "#HereFor4 … Always," signaling her commitment to his return.
Sanders Waits for His Chance if Watson Falters
Shedeur Sanders sits as the backup quarterback with a real opportunity if Watson's performance dips. The week-to-week evaluation system means that poor play could quickly trigger a change. Cleveland's willingness to consider Sanders shows the team is not locked into Watson no matter what happens on the field.
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