BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – On Monday, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will take the next step towards his return to the NFL.
Watson will become eligible to practice with the team for the first time since August 30 when he began his 11-game suspension related to a disciplinary settlement with the NFL that followed an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions from nearly two dozen women that were filed in Texas civil court.
While Watson’s return is on the horizon, the Browns are focused on the task at hand: just keeping their season afloat.
“We've got to win regardless if he comes back or not,” defensive end Myles Garrett said Friday. “Anything can happen, praying to God that he's healthy and everything goes right when he comes back, but I don't plan on handing it to anyone. He's coming back to us so we're all going to do our part and he's going to come in and do an exceptional job, and we fully believe that.
“But we've got to win for the sake of winning, wanting to be great and do great for the sake of this city, not just for him coming back.”
The Browns head to Miami this weekend 3-5 coming of their bye week and are in “must-win” mode.
With four AFC losses to date, they can hardly afford a fifth to a conference foe if they are to keep Wild Card hopes alive while the Ravens remain perched atop the division at 6-3.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who played with Watson in Houston, signed a second one-year contract with the Browns this spring for the opportunity to reunite with his friend.
“I've been waiting, we're still waiting,” Clowney said. “I'm ready to play with him. I've played with him before, he's a big energy booster for a team. He can go out there make some crazy throws, make some plays and I think when he gets back we can open up our playbook with him a little different. It's going to be exciting to see when he gets back. I'm just ready for it. See how it goes.
“We need to be in a good situation when he gets back. So that's what we're fighting for right now.”
Under terms of the settlement, Watson, who returned to the team facility October 10, is eligible for full reinstatement on November 28, a day after the Browns host Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said at the NFL owner’s meetings last month that Watson continues to meet the conditions of his suspension and is on track to be reinstated on time.
Both EXP/GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski have said that Watson will start at Houston December 4.
The Browns have a plan to reintegrate Watson during practice next week, but Stefanski isn’t ready to discuss what that will look like just yet as he keeps his focus on the Dolphins.
“Deshaun is a great, great teammate,” Stefanski said. “He has been awesome having him back in the building and in the meetings rooms. That is the next step in this where he can he get out there and practice.”