The Browns restructured Watson's contract Thursday by converting $44.8 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $35.8 million in cap space, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Watson's restructure could be positioning Cleveland for impending roster moves, as the team now has a NFL-leading $62 million in available salary cap space. Meanwhile, Watson still carries a tremendous $72.9 million salary cap hit for the Browns in both 2025 and 2026. Now heading into his age-29 season, Watson is coming off a quiet preseason in which he was held out of exhibition action and received regular rest days while working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. The team's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cowboys will represent Watson's first game action since last November.
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The Browns restructured Watson's contract Thursday by converting $44.8 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $35.8 million in cap space, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Watson's restructure could be positioning Cleveland for impending roster moves, as the team now has a NFL-leading $62 million in available salary cap space. Meanwhile, Watson still carries a tremendous $72.9 million salary cap hit for the Browns in both 2025 and 2026. Now heading into his age-29 season, Watson is coming off a quiet preseason in which he was held out of exhibition action and received regular rest days while working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. The team's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cowboys will represent Watson's first game action since last November.
Watson won't play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Seahawks, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports. Watson was able to participate in practice throughout the week leading up to the contest, but he was limited Wednesday due to what was described as general arm soreness. Though the signal caller returned to a full session Thursday, the Browns will play it safe with Watson, which sets the stage for his first game action since November of 2023 to occur Sept. 8 against the Cowboys. Per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal, Jameis Winston is slated to draw the start at QB versus Seattle on Saturday.
Watson (arm) practiced fully Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Watson's full participation arrives a day after he was limited with soreness in his surgically-repaired throwing shoulder on Wednesday. Though Watson worked without restrictions Thursday, it remains to be seen if the QB will see his first preseason action Saturday against the Seahawks.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Watson (arm) was limited in practice due to "general arm soreness," Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. Stefanski also said he hasn't yet made a decision on Watson's status for Saturday's preseason finale against the Seahawks, though Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports that he said earlier this week that starters "should expect to play." Per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal, Jameis Winston handled all the first-team reps at practice Wednesday with Watson being held out. Stefanski mentioned, though, that he's "not overly concerned" about Watson's health.
Watson is slated to play in the Browns' preseason finale against the Seahawks on Aug. 24, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Watson isn't in line to play Saturday against the Vikings in Cleveland's second preseason contest, but he's in line to see some action in the team's final exhibition outing. Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, coach Kevin Stefanski has generally played most of the Browns' healthy starters, including the QB, in preseason finales during his tenure, and in that scenario Watson would be seeing his first game reps since Week 10 of the 2023 season.
Watson isn't expected to play Saturday versus Minnesota in Cleveland's second preseason contest, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Watson sat out the Browns' preseason opener against Green Bay and won't suit up for the second exhibition contest either. However, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports that the quarterback has been cleared for full contact and will get most of the reps in joint practices with the Vikings this week. It remains to be seen if Watson will participate in Cleveland's third and final preseason game Aug. 24 against Seattle.
Watson won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Packers, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. As a result, Jameis Winston will get the starting nod against Green Bay, with Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson candidates to follow. Additionally, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, coach Kevin Stefanski noted Tuesday that the Browns have yet to determine whether Watson will play in either the team's second or third exhibition contest.
Watson (shoulder) is participating in 11-on-11 drills at Friday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. Watson is taking 11-on-11 reps for the first time since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, though he did participate in 7-on-7 activities during spring. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday a decision hasn't yet been made on Watson potentially suiting up for any of Cleveland's three preseason games, but it doesn't appear that the 28-year-old quarterback is dealing with limitations at practice any longer. For the time being, Watson is commanding a thin first-team offense, with Jerry Jeudy (leg) and David Njoku (undisclosed) both limited to work on the side due to seemingly minor injuries, and Nick Chubb (knee) having started camp on the PUP list as he works his way back from a pair of surgeries.
Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday that he was unsure whether Watson (shoulder) would appear in any of the Browns' three preseason games, Patrick Warren of the Browns' official site reports. Watson, who had offseason shoulder surgery, has been throwing in camp, but the coach is being extra cautious at this stage. Stefanski said the coaching staff will discuss the quarterback's progress and make any playing decisions at the appropriate time.