Former Clemson star quarterback Deshaun Watson is one step closer to playing for the Cleveland Browns again.

The Browns announced Wednesday they opened the 21-day practice window for Watson to return to practice, and he returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday.

It marked Watson’s first time formally being on the field since he suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear during Cleveland’s Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 20, 2024. Less than three months after his initial tear, Watson tore his Achilles for the second time and underwent a second surgery in January to repair it.

“He’ll be out there today, which is outstanding for Deshaun,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said during his press conference Wednesday. “He has 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. So, excited for him. His focus, my focus is obviously getting him back to playing football, practicing football, which he hasn’t done in over a year. So, it’s a good next step for him.”

The re-tear of his Achilles marked the latest setback for Watson, who has faced plenty of adversity in recent seasons, on and off the field. He played in just six games in his first season with Cleveland in 2022 after having to serve a suspension and then was limited to just six games in 2023 and seven in 2024 due to season-ending injuries.

Watson completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 1,148 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions in his seven games during the 2024 season. He also ran for 148 yards and another score on the ground.

A three-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Houston Texans, Watson has a 66.2 completion percentage for his career with 17,904 passing yards and 123 passing touchdowns with 48 interceptions in 73 career games with the Texans and Browns since being selected by Houston in the first round (12th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

In March 2022, Watson signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns after being traded from the Texans to the Browns, who gave away a bunch of draft picks (including three first-round picks) in the deal.

After opening his practice window, the Browns now have 21 days to activate Watson to their 53-man roster, or he will be sidelined for the rest of this season.

Stefanski was asked if it’s the desire of the organization to see Watson play in a game before this season is over.

“Really not my focus, not his focus, right this minute,” Stefanski said. “His focus is putting a helmet on again for the first time, shoulder pads, throwing the football. That’s where the focus is.”

“Our focus is activating this practice window, seeing him on the practice field, getting him into individual, those type of things,” Stefanski added. “And I want to point out, he’s worked really, really hard to rehab from this. He’s done everything that’s asked of him. So, 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 as well.”

–Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee-Imagn Images