The Cleveland Browns are set to get starting quarterback Deshaun Watson back against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Watson returned to practice on Thursday after missing time with a shoulder injury that forced the quarterback to take several steps back after it appeared he would not miss any games with the injury for the Steelers rival.
Last week, Mary Kay Cabot reported that Watson could miss multiple more games depending upon how recovery went. Watson is dealing with a ‘strain-like deep contusion’ of his rotator cuff, which has forced him to miss two games. The recovery time from the injury was two to six weeks. However, Watson is in the middle of that at four weeks and seems ready to go. Backup P.J. Walker helped the team catapult to a surprise upset victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week.
Watson said that he was having trouble driving the football. Even when he tried to do that, he could not make those throws without pain in his shoulder. As such, the Browns will not play Watson until he is fully healthy and can push the ball down the field without issues. On Friday, he ramped up his workload to the fullest since the injury, which now seems to be the case for Watson. It certainly looks like Watson is getting healthy and feels much better when throwing to all levels of the field. Previously, Watson had thrown the ball about thirty yards at practice on Thursday.
Watson was medically cleared before their Week 4 game against the Ravens, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Yet, he held himself out for that game after feeling significant pain while throwing. The team assumed that he would get better and be able to play. Now, it seems that time has come for the Browns, and a key Steelers rival will have their quarterback on the field.