Deshaun Watson On Shoulder Injury: "The Arrow Is Trending Up"

Watson addressed the latest updates on when he might return from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since Week 3

Three weeks after suffering a shoulder injury that has sidelined him the last two games, Deshaun Watson spoke with media for the first time Wednesday and offered an honest assessment of when he could return as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback.

Watson’s updates weren’t much different from where he had been in the past, though — the Pro Bowl QB doesn’t know when he’ll be back.

“It could be any day,” he said. “It could be tomorrow. It could be Sunday. It could be two weeks from now. I’m not sure. I can’t put a timeline on anything right now.”

Oct 1, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) walks off the field after warm ups before the game between the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Watson described the injury as a strain, or “micro-tear,” of his rotator cuff, which he acknowledged was usually a 4-6 week injury. The injury is in his right throwing shoulder, however, which has affected his ability to adequately throw the football with velocity.

To Watson, the timeline of his return isn’t about when the pain will subside, but rather when he’s able to throw the ball effectively enough to execute plays. He believes he hasn’t been at the level the last three weeks, which included the Browns’ Week 4 loss to the Ravens, a bye week and their upset win in Week 6 against the 49ers.

“It’s not so much the pain,” he said. “It’s about throwing the football. I can deal with certain pain, but if I can’t control the football and throw it with more velocity or not throw it a certain amount of yards, then I don’t want to handicap the team.”

The timing of the injury was particularly unfortunate for Watson, who built the best game of his Browns career in the same game he suffered his injury against the Titans in Week 3. Watson went 27-of-33 for 289 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 27-3 win.

Since then, however, the Browns’ QB room has been in flux. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled mightily in the loss against the Ravens, forcing practice squad QB P.J. Walker to start for Cleveland in Week 6.

Walker’s performance wasn’t great either and included two interceptions and no touchdowns, but he did enough for the Browns to win against the previously undefeated 49ers — and likely entrenched himself as the top backup option if Watson has to miss any more time.

Even when he does return, Watson said the injury might not go away, and he’s unsure if he’ll be able to return to 100 percent health this season.

“This is my first time dealing with a rotator cuff, so I’m just trying to get as comfortable as I possibly can to go out there and perform at the level I know I can,” he said. “If I can’t, then we’re going to continue to take it day-to-day. I’m not going to put the team in jeopardy if I can’t do certain things that are going to allow us to be handicapped in certain situations.”

Still, Watson feels he’s made progress, and nothing would signal that more than a return to practice — which could happen Wednesday.

“The arrow’s been trending up,” he said. “Each day, we’ve been trying to get better and better and get as comfortable as possible.”