'It's just seeing him every day': Browns' Andrew Berry sees 'big year' for Deshaun Watson

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Andrew Berry isn't interested in what the eyes of others outside of the Browns' organization have to say about quarterback Deshaun Watson . The only ones that matter to the team's general manager are his own.

Berry's admittedly biased in some regards there, having been the general manager who swung the 2022 trade with the Houston Texans to bring Watson to Cleveland . However, while many outside of the Browns' facility are questioning the validity of the quarterback nearly four years removed from his last full season, he fully believes the 28-year-old remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

And why is that, one may ask Berry?

“Yeah, I think it’s just seeing him every day," Berry said during his training camp availability Monday at The Greenbrier. "Seeing how he prepares, seeing how he works in practice. Seeing how he relates to his coaches. I think our biggest focus with Deshaun is just making sure that he’s available. I think the rest will take care of itself.”

The whole thing about being available has been something of a hang-up for Watson since he got to the Browns. The two previous seasons have led to 12 total starts in Cleveland for the former 2017 first-round pick and three-time Pro Bowler.

The Browns hoped last season — after Watson came back from his 11-game personal-conduct policy suspension due to the more than two dozen lawsuits by women alleging sexual misconduct and sexual assault during massage appointments — would be the one that showed what Berry was seeing. Instead, a broken glenoid on Nov. 12 led to season-ending shoulder surgery nine days later.

That's led to another offseason of questions to anyone associated with the Browns about Watson. Those questions surround how he can provide them with a complete season so that, finally, an honest assessment about his performance can be handed down.

Until then, every offseason throw, every training camp rep, will take on a life of their own for Watson. And lead to questions to Berry about where things stand with his QB.

"We’ve been very pleased with Deshaun," Berry said. "I think you’ve all seen that he’s really worked his tail off in terms of his shoulder rehab over really like the past year, had a really strong spring. You know, he’s done a really nice job here early at camp, so we feel like he’s in a great place both physically and mentally and look forward to a big year.”

Watson's ramp-up has gone to a different level since training camp began. He's gone from just starting to throw on March 18 to throwing every other day in individual drills during OTAs to throwing every other day to adding 7-on-7 drills to his repertoire in minicamp in June.

Training camp has seen Watson on the field and throwing every day over the first four practices. That's included some limited 11-on-11 drills against the defense, most of which occurred on Friday and Saturday.

Asked if Watson was fully cleared to be a daily participant in camp, Berry stopped short of answering yes, but hardly put up a firm roadblock either.

“Yeah, so without going too specifically into his plan," Berry said, "there will be some level of cadence. But he’s in a really good spot. He’s got more than enough volume.”

Watson's passes, for the most part during the 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills, have not been of the deep variety. Most have gone within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.

What Berry bristled at was the suggestion that the Browns were taking their time allowing Watson uncork many deep shots. Watson made some of those types of throws, in a limited capacity, during both OTAs and, especially minicamp.

"It just, I mean, I might disagree with that assertion, to be honest," Berry said. "I think, you know, certain throws in the NFL that require a lot of arm strength, they’re not always vertical and down the field. I think perhaps what, you know, maybe you’ve seen in the limited amount of 7-on-7 or teamwork we’ve done just happens to be that’s where the progressions have gone.”

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: 'It's just seeing him every day': Browns' Andrew Berry sees 'big year' for Deshaun Watson