Overview
- Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tuesday that Cleveland did not activate Watson before his 21-day window closed, so he reverts to reserve/PUP for the final two games.
- Across three weeks, Watson progressed from individual drills to limited scout-team work but logged too few reps for game readiness and will continue rehabbing indoors.
- Rookie Shedeur Sanders remains the starter for Weeks 17 and 18, with Dillon Gabriel providing depth behind him.
- Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million contract carries an approximately $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, making a release financially punitive and pointing toward his return on the roster next year.
- Cleveland opened the window on Dec. 3 to give Watson on-field work after Achilles surgeries, and the 3-12 Browns are using the closing stretch to evaluate their young quarterbacks.