Browns' Coach Kevin Stefanski announces when quarterback Deshaun Watson will play an NFL game

Since being sidelined since November 2023 with a shoulder injury requiring surgery, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's return date to the field has been set by his head coach Kevin Stefanski.

According to Mary Kay Cabot , Watson will play in the third and final preseason game at Seattle on August 24, 2024, at 10 PM PT.  Backup quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson will once again play in this weekend's preseason game at Minnesota.

Ever since the Browns acquired Watson in March 2022, after he sat out the 2021 NFL season as a member of the Houston Texans, he has never been able to log significant and consistent playing time on the field.  In 2022, he served an 11-game suspension and in 2023 the injury cost him valuable playing time and forced the Browns into using a laundry list of quarterbacks (including Joe Flacco ) to remain competitive.  Since playing 16 games for the Texans in 2020, Watson has only played 12 games since.

The Browns need Watson to shake off the rustiness in the preseason so they can get off to a quick start in Week 1 when they host the Dallas Cowboys on September 8 at 4:25 ET.