Browns QB Deshaun Watson Injury Update: Will He Play vs. Vikings on Saturday?

The Cleveland Browns kicked off their 2024 preseason on Saturday with a 23-10 home loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Are we worried? Nope.

It’s the preseason, and we don’t care about scores, we care about on-field play, progress, and efficiency. And we saw a lot of that from the Browns on Saturday.

What we didn’t see is quarterback Deshaun Watson on the field, and that’s something that looks like it won't change for preseason Game 2 when the Browns take on the Vikings on Saturday.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Sunday that Watson has been cleared for contact, but will not appear in the team's second preseason game on Saturday vs. the Vikings.

Stefankski did indicate that Watson will take the majority of the snaps in practice this week, meaning less first-team practice time for backups Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

The Browns' last opportunity to field Watson will be in the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 24.

Related: Browns Players Make Waves in Preseason Opener Against Packers

Watson had surgery on Nov. 21 last year to repair a broken shoulder socket that ended his 2023 season. The former Clemson Tiger and Houston Texan has played in just 12 of a possible 35 regular and post-season games over the past two years since the blockbuster trade that brought him to Cleveland. Some of that missed time was due to an 11-game suspension that Watson brought with him from Houston.

The Browns need to see good things from Watson this season with the hopes that the $230 million guaranteed contract he signed with the team will pay off with a deep playoff run at some point.

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