Report: Browns plan to keep Watson in 2026

The Cleveland Browns are planning to have injured quarterback Deshaun Watson on the roster in 2026, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Watson returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since a torn Achilles ended his 2024 season last October. The veteran then tore his Achilles tendon again last January.

However, Watson is unlikely to play this season despite the Browns opening a 21-day window to activate him to the roster, Schefter adds.

Watson's contract is one of the reasons he's expected to be back next year, Schefter notes. The quarterback would carry a dead-money hit of nearly $135 million if Cleveland releases him before June 1. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would reduce the figure to $53 million.

The Browns sent a haul that included three first-round picks to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson in 2022, then signed him to a fully guaranteed $230-million contract. The move has been a major disaster for the franchise, as Watson has played only 19 games since the trade. Over that time, he's compiled a 9-10 record with a 61.2 completion percentage, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Cleveland opened the 2025 campaign with Joe Flacco as its starting quarterback before trading him to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Flacco deal allowed the franchise to get a look at rookie passers Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who's getting his third start Sunday.