Deshaun Watson is officially cleared and expected to start for the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, set to face his old team, the Houston Texans. This isn’t just another game for Watson, who missed last Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints due to a concussion suffered the week prior in a 27-6 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers. What a saga this guy’s career has become, especially considering the massive five-year, $230 million extension the Browns handed him in 2022.
The Tumultuous Path Back to the Field
Watson’s concussion against the Steelers was a wild one. He was evaluated on the opening drive, stayed in the game, and actually threw for 324 yards with no turnovers. But, after that game, he landed right back in concussion protocol. Now, he’s good to go for what will be only the second time he’s faced the Texans since their messy public breakup before the 2021 season. That whole situation kicked off when he asked for a trade, leading to a criminal investigation after two dozen civil lawsuits accusing the Pro Bowl quarterback of sexual assault and harassment. A Harris County grand jury declined criminal charges, and then, boom, he was off to Cleveland. The price tag for the Browns? Three first-round picks, plus a future third- and fourth-rounder. Think about that return for Houston, who even used one of those first-rounders to land All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
A Legacy of Injuries and Mediocre Play
Since arriving in Cleveland, Watson’s tenure has been a brutal mix of mediocre play and an absolutely cursed string of season-ending injuries. We’re talking about a guy who was suspended for the first 11 games in 2022 and only started six. Then 2023 hit, and he missed ten games with a lingering shoulder injury. A year later, it was a torn Achilles that knocked him out for the rest of the 2024 season, limiting him to just seven starts. And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, he re-ruptured that Achilles tendon before the 2025 season even began, forcing him to miss the *entire* year. His overall record as a starter since then? A frankly astonishing 13-14, with zero playoff wins. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans still has to talk up the challenge, saying, “Watson’s playing well at the quarterback position as well. They’re rolling along… Playing with good energy, executing well. It’ll be a really tough challenge for us.” But honestly, those numbers tell a completely different story. The last time Houston saw him, in 2022, Watson went 12 of 22 for 131 yards with one interception in a 27-14 Browns win, largely because the Texans offense couldn’t move the ball.
This Sunday at Noon on FOX, the Texans get another shot at their former QB. You gotta wonder if Watson, now cleared from concussion protocol, can finally deliver on that massive contract, or if his injury woes and underwhelming record will continue to haunt him against the team he left behind. It’s not just a game, it’s a test of whether he can finally change that narrative.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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