BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns held a voluntary practice Wednesday. Quarterback Deshaun Watson threw passes and seemed to operate comfortably with his new teammates and surroundings, but Watson was not made available to reporters after the 90-minute session.
For the Browns, it was Day 2 of their organized team activity practices that constitute the final phase of the formal offseason program and lead into a mid-June mandatory minicamp. It was also another day of waiting as the Browns prepare for an official ruling from the NFL on whether Watson will face a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Advertisem*nt
Following an aggressive and expensive offseason spending period that centered around the addition of Watson, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has plenty he’d like to see his team improve upon over the next three-plus weeks. In the OTA practices that are open to reporters, all eyes are on Watson — and all questions center around how he’s fitting in and when he’ll be available for meaningful games for a team that has lofty expectations and believes it can eventually be a real contender in the loaded AFC.
The Browns are all-in on Watson, for whom they gave up three first-round picks and to whom they gave a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in March, a week after a Texas grand jury declined to indict Watson on charges of sexual misconduct. Watson still faces 22 active lawsuits alleging assault and harassment, and two of the accusers shared details of their allegations on an HBO “Real Sports” special that aired Tuesday night.
Asked directly about the “Real Sports” special, Stefanski said he did not watch it but read about it.
“I would tell you, we did a lot of work on (the accusations),” Stefanski said Wednesday. “As we talked about, we have done a lot of work on Deshaun the person, and there (are) legal proceedings ongoing and there is an investigation ongoing, so I will not comment much further than that. We understand … it is something that we are going to be dealing with as these proceedings go on.”
The Browns signed up for all of this — all of the uncertainty, all of the awkwardness — but they did so with the hope that, eventually, there will be an opportunity for Watson to become a player who can carry the Browns to new heights. For now, it’s just the second day of spring practice, and everything remains positively weird.
The NFL’s investigation into Watson’s actions began in March 2021, and Watson did not play for the Houston Texans last season after requesting a trade. The Browns have offered little public comment on the status of the investigation, other than to say that they’ll continue to cooperate with the NFL until a conclusion is reached. Watson has been participating in the team’s voluntary offseason program since it began in mid-April.
Advertisem*nt
Watson met with NFL investigators last week in Texas, meetings that served as a sign that the investigation was proceeding and perhaps coming to a close. Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters the league is “nearing the end of the investigative period, and then it will be handled by our disciplinary officer.” That’s the closest thing to affirmation from anyone on the record that a decision should be coming soon — or at least some point before training camp begins in late July.
In multiple podcast and radio interviews this week, Rusty Hardin, Watson’s attorney, has said that he expects the NFL will speak to Watson again before concluding the investigation. Hardin has said he has “no firm dates” but remains confident that the league wants to wrap things up as quickly as possible. At the close of the investigation, the NFL will turn its findings over to former U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson, who will determine both if Watson will face discipline for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and what that potential punishment would be.
Goodell would get the final call if any disciplinary decision is appealed. At the owners’ meetings in March, Goodell said the league would not consider using the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning Watson would either face a suspension or no penalty.
Watson worked with both the first and second offensive personnel groups in seven-on-seven and full-team settings Wednesday.
“I think Deshaun is (shaking off some rust),” Stefanski said. “I think any time you are practicing, you are doing that, but certainly game speeds and those types of things, that is something that will come in preseason games. I definitely think for all of these guys, they are shaking off an element of rust just from that break.”
Next in line to quarterback the Browns is Jacoby Brissett, who has a history of getting himself ready on short notice and in less than ideal circ*mstances. The Browns figure to get a ruling on Watson’s availability sometime between the June 14 start of their summer break and the late-July start of training camp, but until then, they’ll continue to work with what they know.
Advertisem*nt
Browns linebacker Anthony Walker, who gave up his No. 4 to Watson shortly after the trade, played against Watson six times when Watson was in Houston and Walker played for the Indianapolis Colts. Walker spoke glowingly of Watson — as a player and a leader — on Wednesday, and at one point Walker’s interview session was interrupted by Watson stepping in to shake Walker’s hand and give him what appeared to be a Rolex watch box as a thank you for giving up the No. 4. Walker put the box at his feet and continued the interview after thanking Watson, who walked away without acknowledging the cameras or reporters in attendance. It was another strange moment in this, the Browns’ new uncertain reality centered around their new quarterback.
“We haven’t really talked about (Watson’s situation) as a team or anything,” Walker said. “I didn’t even watch TV last night, so I can’t speak on what was shown. On the football field, he’s the quarterback. He’s locked in leading the offense, and he’s done that every day he’s been here.
“Going against a competitor, a guy that loves the game of football, an elite playmaker, an elite quarterback, (there’s) going to be a lot of trash talk during OTAs, during minicamp and also during training camp. At the end of the day, we are working towards a common goal, and that is being Super Bowl champs at the end of the year. We are going to push each other to get there.”
(Photo: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
Zac Jackson is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Cleveland Browns. He is also the host of the "A to Z" podcast alongside Andre Knott. Previously, Zac covered the Browns for Fox Sports Ohio and worked for Pro Football Talk. Follow Zac on Twitter @AkronJackson
