Cleveland Browns vice president of football operations Andrew Berry has left the door open for a potential Deshaun Watson return in 2025. When asked about the possibility of Watson being back under center for the Browns next season, Berry responded, “Yeah, I think that’s always possible.”
During his annual “state of the franchise” press conference, which took place during the team’s bye week, Berry largely sidestepped questions about Watson’s long-term future with the Browns. His focus was primarily on Watson’s recovery from the ruptured Achilles he suffered three weeks ago, emphasizing that the team’s priority right now is his rehabilitation.
Watson suffered the injury during a 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, forcing him to be carted off the field. The situation was made even more tense when some fans at Huntington Bank Stadium cheered as Watson went down, an incident that has since become a symbol of the strained relationship between Watson and the fanbase. The quarterback still has two years remaining on his fully guaranteed $230 million contract, which continues to spark questions about his future in Cleveland.
Berry also avoided addressing how the team plans to assess its quarterback situation moving forward, stating that any evaluation would come in the offseason when the team has a clearer picture of its roster.
This latest injury, combined with the underwhelming performance of the offense under Watson during the first seven weeks of the season, has raised plenty of questions about who was behind the decision to pursue Watson in the first place. In addition to the massive contract, the Browns gave up three first-round picks to acquire him in 2022.
Berry, however, defended the move, stating that the decision to trade for Watson was a collaborative one. “All of us were on board,” Berry said. “Everyone’s on board, and obviously with a big commitment in that regard that’s always going to be the case.”
