Browns QB Deshaun Watson: 'I got to perform' whether it's a joint practice or a game

BEREA — The joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings has given Deshaun Watson something he hasn't had since last November. It's a chance for the Browns quarterback to at least see someone in a different colored uniform.

Watson hadn't seen that since he faced a different team wearing purple, the Baltimore Ravens, last Nov. 12. That was also the last time he played in a game, as he was ruled out two days later because he required season-ending shoulder surgery.

The practices Wednesday and Thursday against the Vikings aren't quite the same thing as that game in Baltimore, as Watson can't be touched. Still, for someone who had not seen anyone other than teammates across from him in the last nine months or so, it was a step in the right direction.

"Every day is a confidence booster, you know what I'm saying?" Watson said before the second joint practice Thursday. "So not just to going against different opponents, different teams, a great Minnesota team, but against a great defensive team, too. They don't take it light on me and I don't want them to go out there and like, ‘Oh, four had a shoulder injury, so let's just take it light whenever he’s in.' … So when I step on the field between those lines, I got to perform. Nothing else matter regardless of an injury or not."

What will eventually matter is when Watson gets out and the setting isn't as controlled as the two practices against the Vikings. That's when the blitzing defenders who have often been in his face these two days but who've had to pull up will just finish off the hit.

That's when the true answer of where Watson is in his recovery — mentally and emotionally as much as physically — will really be given. The quarterback, however, denies it's a question.

"I'm not trying to take a hit, so that's not even on my mind," Watson said. "I'm trying to just come out clean each and every game. So that ain't on my mind to take a hit for sure."

There's a chance that first hit could come as soon as next week. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday the "plan" was for Watson to play in the Browns' preseason finale on Aug. 24 at the Seattle Seahawks.

Watson wouldn't say for certain Thursday if that was still the plan. A year ago, when there were no injury or suspension concerns looming over him in the preseason, he played a total of 32 snaps combined in two preseason games, including 20 in the finale at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Whether or not Watson plays in Seattle isn't an issue to him. He's still viewing the two days of work he's received against the Vikings as positive reinforcement for where he is in his comeback.

"I mean, the biggest thing with the preseason games, I think it comes down to operational," Watson said. "You're not going to do too much in preseason. … So that's why I take a lot of reps, if not the majority of all the reps, in these joint practices because it's game-like going against different opponents, different things.

"So, yeah, I mean, for me it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, once you step on the field, you’ve got to perform and you’ve got to play."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns QB Deshaun Watson: 'I got to perform' whether it's a joint practice or a game