Deshaun Watson takes major step in return as Browns begin to settle on Shedeur Sanders

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Just as Shedeur Sanders is settling as the Cleveland Browns quarterback, the one the team signed to a $230 million deal is back on the field for the first time in over a year.

Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20 last year and did so again this past January, pushing back his return even more.

But the Browns opened up Watson's 21-day window to return on Wednesday, just as Sanders is prepping for the third start of his NFL career.

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"He’s been working so hard, rehabbing. So finally to get out there on the practice field with his teammates, go through individual, I think is really great for him," Coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Our focus is activating this practice window, seeing him on the practice field, getting him into individual, those type of things. He’s done everything that’s asked of him. He’s been so supportive in the meeting room on the game field with the players. Now he gets to go do that on the practice field."

Watson is currently 9-10 as Cleveland’s starter. He has 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a passer rating of 80.7. He's also unpopular among fans after the Browns sent five draft picks to Houston, including three first-round selections, and signed him to a fully guaranteed contract widely regarded as one of the worst in league history.

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If Watson is not activated from injured reserve in the window, he will officially miss the entire season.

The Browns "took a big swing and miss" with the trade, co-owner Jimmy Haslam said during league meetings in March, adding that "we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole."

The Browns have reworked Watson's contract twice in three months during the offseason in a bid for some financial flexibility.

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Watson is under contract for the 2026 season, as well, as Dillon Gabriel is now Sanders' backup. Sanders entered a Week 11 game after Gabriel got concussed. Sanders started Week 12 while Gabriel was in the protocol, and after winning his first start, Sanders remained the starter even after Gabriel was cleared.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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