For an ESPN story revealed on April 8, an unnamed NFC workforce government mentioned he could not “see” a special workforce signing Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson assuming the Browns formally part ways with Watson in 2026.
As has develop into considerably of a convention this spring, Watson seemingly used Instagram to reply to that piece and clarify how having his again “in opposition to the wall” solely serves as motivation to show doubters fallacious.
“Everybody is doubting me,” Watson says within the quick clip, per Josh Alper of Professional Soccer Speak. “Everybody don’t consider in me. Everybody don’t suppose I can get again to the place I used to be. However I do know, and I consider the work that I put in, that I consider in myself. The peace that I’ve been channelling the final couple of months, I do know I’m gonna be manner higher than earlier than.”
Watson shared the same social media submit not lengthy after Browns proprietor Jimmy Haslam acknowledged in the course of the NFL owners meetings that the group “took an enormous swing and miss” by handing the 29-year-old a completely assured five-year, $230M deal as a part of buying him from the Houston Texans in March 2022. Barring a surprising growth, that would go down because the worst trade-and-contract mixture in NFL historical past.
In whole, Watson has made just 19 starts for Cleveland. He missed 11 video games in the course of the 2022 season whereas serving a suspension associated to allegations of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods that had been recognized about lengthy earlier than the Browns traded for his companies. A shoulder harm prematurely ended his 2023 marketing campaign, and he performed poorly this previous fall earlier than he suffered a torn Achilles in October.
Watson later tore the Achilles again whereas rehabbing, and it is thought that the second harm will maintain him out of motion till 2026.
Based on ESPN and Pro Football Reference, Watson’s 23.4 adjusted QBR would’ve been the league’s worst for the 2024 season had he completed Week 18 amongst certified gamers. His 79.0 passer ranking would’ve been good for thirty sixth out of 37 quarterbacks.
If nothing else, Watson could also be sending a message to different groups that whispers suggesting he will not “be motivated to play” in 2026 are inaccurate. At this level, one can solely guess which golf equipment can be excited by selecting him up subsequent offseason.
