Quick, what’s the first thing that pops into mind when it comes to Deshaun Watson?
There is no wrong answer here. Your mind. Your thoughts. Your interest and perspective. And hey, maybe even your fantasy team.
Well, here’s a new one to consider as the first-place Cleveland Browns head to Pittsburgh for a marquee AFC North matchup: NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidate.
A few weeks ago, I thought – and the betting odds concurred – that Patrick Mahomes was a shoo-in for the award, given the torrid pace of his rehab from two torn knee ligaments had him suiting up for Week 1. Maybe it’s still the Chiefs quarterback’s award to lose.
And a few weeks ago, that was Watson being booed out of the Dawg Pound, so to speak, after a disastrous preseason performance
seemingly suggested that Shedeur Sanders would enter his second pro season as the starting quarterback.
When Browns coach Todd Monken (the most-qualified person to make the call, he reminded me during a training camp chat) named Watson as the starter on Aug. 24, the conventional wisdom was that it was just temporary. Watson was supposed to be on the bench by now – I mean, so many analysts and ahem, columnists, told you that – and the rebuilding Browns could continue their perpetual mission to land a franchise quarterback by other means.
So much for conventional wisdom.
No, Watson, averaging roughly 212 passing yards per game, has not lit it up to the point that he will threaten P-Money’s single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns. Yet as the NFL approaches midseason, his on-the-fiedl comeback is undeniably next-level because he is nailing it in crunch time.
Watson has led the Browns (5-2) on game-winning drives in each of their victories this season, which puts him in the company of Troy Aikman (1990) and Matthew Stafford (2016) as the only quarterbacks since the 1970 merger to lead such clutch drives in his team’s first five victories of a season.
“I’m proud of Deshaun, the way he’s battled back in games at times,” Monken, the first-year head coach, told reporters this week.
Deshaun Watson and Browns set for Pittsburgh test
That Watson, 31, has battled back to revive his career and rewrite the narrative about his viability as an NFL quarterback again is another whole matter.
Comeback Player? If it’s not about off-the-field reputation and we’re sticking to football here – the description of the award (disclosure: I’m a member of the Associated Press panel that votes for the award) specifically mentions resilience in overcoming illness, injury or other circumstances that caused them to miss playing time in the past year – then Watson certainly qualifies to enter the debate that can play out in the coming months.
It’s also getting to the point now that Watson, in the final year of his fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million contract, is gaining some serious leverage for another big pay day. If he keeps this up, the Browns can’t just let him walk as a free agent next offseason.
But first things first: The Browns have not won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh in 23 years. So, for all of the talk (and action) of changing the “Browns is the Browns” culture under Monken, here’s another challenge for the team and its hot quarterback to prove it on the field.
When he met the media on Wednesday, Watson didn’t overplay the franchise’s long losing streak in Pittsburgh (Cleveland won a 2020 playoff game there, when a lot of weird things happened with the pandemic), but spun it to a one-day-at-a-time reality. No, none of the Browns were around for that last regular-season win at then-called Heinz Field.
“Again, just another opportunity for us to be able to go out there and just showcase what we’re capable of,” he said.
Deshaun Watson's allegations and injuries
This is all so different for him, given his setbacks on the field and notably his alleged actions off-the-field, stemming from the allegations of sexual misconduct from more that two dozen massage therapists. Watson didn’t play a single game last season as he rehabbed from a second tear his right Achilles tendon, which followed the rupture that ended his 2024 season. Add the absences stemming from his 2023 shoulder injury and surgery, his 11-game NFL suspension and being shut down by the Houston Texans for the entire 2021 campaign as drama surrounding the off-the-field issues and a contract dispute unfolded, and Watson has played in a grand total of 19 of a possible 85 games in five-plus seasons.
This season, though, Watson is resembling the quarterback that he was as a rising star with the Texans, which moved the Browns to invest that huge contract and major draft capital that included three first-round picks, to trade for him despite the off-field chaos.
“It’s a blessing, man,” Watson said, when someone asked him to reflect on the football part of his comeback. “A lot of enjoyment to be able to be able to play football, getting wins and having success, seeing all the young guys have success. So, it’s definitely been a good seven weeks.”
While keeping mistakes to a minimum (just three interceptions, with a solid-if-not-spectacular 90.6 pass efficiency rating), Watson is benefitting from the rhythm and timing that comes with getting extensive reps again after so much time off from live action.
Monken said the most recent comeback, which was also the biggest one as the Browns trailed by 14 at Tennessee on Sunday, was Watson’s most complete game of the season. Beyond the numbers – Watson posted his first 300-yard game and ran for his first TD of the season with a 9-yard scamper – the coach gave him high marks for his efficiency in operating the offense and for decision-making and composure.
While Monken was cautious not to go too far, saying that Watson and the team is still “under construction” and that they need to start faster, he can’t help but love the fourth-quarter comebacks that undoubtedly gives Watson – and his coach and team – a boost of confidence that is tangible in a league where so many games go down to the wire.
“A real credit to him,” Monken said. “He has something in him to be able to make plays when it counts.”
Of course, there are some people who will never forgive Watson for the allegations of sexual misconduct that put him on the map for all the wrong reasons – he was never criminally charged but settled 27 civil suits – and after the NFL conducted its own investigation was fined $5 million fine on top of the lengthy suspension before he ever put on a Browns uniform.
It has been apparent for years, though, that Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam were willing to take their hits right alongside their image-tarnished quarterback. That should surprise no one who follows the NFL, where talent buys second chances. And more.
Given what’s happened lately, that commitment could come to another bridge as the Browns contemplate whether Watson is the long-term answer. His current deal, averaging $46 million per year, was at the top of the market when he signed it in 2022. Now it’s in the middle of the pack for quarterback pay.
So, that next commitment could be another reflection of the cost of doing business – especially if the worst is truly behind for Watson in more ways than one.
Follow Bell on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deshaun Watson was supposed to be benched. Browns are in first place instead | Opinion
