Shedeur Sanders’ job secured as Browns finally decide Deshaun Watson’s fate

Dec 23, 2025 - 18:15

Uncertainty looms heading into 2026.

Deshaun Watson will almost certainly not return to the Cleveland Browns‘ active roster this season.

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium — Watson’s future remains uncertain

The Browns opened Watson’s 21-day practice window on December 3, but it is expected to close after Tuesday’s practice, leaving him on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list for the final two weeks of the season.

As a result, Watson will no longer take part in on-field practices and will instead continue his work indoors at the Browns’ facility, allowing him to concentrate fully on his rehabilitation following two Achilles surgeries.

By all accounts, Watson impressed during his three-week practice stint, drawing praise for looking like the most talented quarterback on the field and showing no visible effects from the operations he underwent in November 2024 and January 2025.

The argument for adding Watson to the 53-man roster centered on keeping him on the practice field and using his experience to help the rookies learn the system.

However, with his workload remaining limited, the Browns determined he would be better off returning indoors. While he progressed from individual work to occasional scout-team reps, his overall practice involvement was still minimal.

There is not much to gain in bringing Watson back for the final two weeks of the season.

“It’s just great to have him out there,” quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave said two weeks ago.

“Like I’ve talked about, it’s been great to have him on the sideline for our young QBs. It was great to have him there for Joe (Flacco) – he and Joe had a really good rapport.

“Of course, they were battling against each other, warriors that saw each other, of course, in the AFC for those years. So, just been a pleasure to have Deshaun here this year. I don’t know where we’d be without him.”

Next season marks the final year of Watson’s fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, the last in which he is contractually required to play for the Browns, before the deal’s void years begin.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) takes the field prior to the National Football League game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on December 21, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field — Sanders has gone 1-4 as the starter in Cleveland

Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders #12 and Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watch from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals — Sanders and Watson will most likely be on the roster next year

Barring something drastic, Watson is expected to stay on the Browns’ roster in 2026 and could even open the season as the bridge quarterback if the team opts not to go with Shedeur Sanders or another option.

According to OverTheCap, Watson’s cap hit for 2026 will be $80.7 million — the highest in NFL history.

While steep, it’s far better than the $131.2 million in dead money the Browns would face by releasing him before June 1. Even a post-June 1 release wouldn’t provide any cap savings.

Given those staggering figures, all indications suggest Watson will be back in 2026.

But for now, as head coach Kevin Stefanski made clear weeks ago, Sanders will remain the Browns’ QB1 for the rest of the season.

The Browns’ final two games come against the Steelers and Bengals, giving Sanders opportunities to gain more experience and potentially fight for the starting job in 2026.

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