Browns won't activate Deshaun Watson from PUP list this season - ESPN

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns will not activate quarterback Deshaun Watson from the physically unable to perform list, coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday.

The decision means that Watson, who tore his right Achilles tendon in October 2024 and then underwent a second surgery in January after retearing it, will not play in the 2025 season.

The deadline to activate Watson from the PUP list was Tuesday, when the practice window closed. During the past three weeks, Watson has conducted individual drills and run the scout team offense. He spent the first three months of the season on the list, and the Browns opened his practice window Dec. 3.

«He's done a great job with everything that's been asked of him,» Stefanski said. «I've gotten to see him work so hard, whether it's in the training room, by himself in the indoor with the trainers, on the practice field now for the last bit. Just felt like this was the right decision for him and for us. His focus will continue to be to help this football team and continue to get healthy and get stronger and all those types of things.»

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this month that the Browns are planning to have Watson on their roster next season. Although Watson was unlikely to play this season after returning to practice, Cleveland opened his practice window to give him his first practices this season so he would not be away from football continuously until next spring, according to Schefter.

Watson, 30, has one year remaining on the five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed. Cleveland still owes Watson $46 million in salary next season, and his cap hit for the 2026 season is $80.7 million, the largest in the NFL.

If the Browns were to cut Watson before June