Browns GM provides ominous outlook on QB Deshaun Watson
The Cleveland Browns have begun their week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and general manager Andrew Berry is still being forced to answer questions about Deshaun Watson.
When asked about Watson's rehab timeline after a second surgery on his torn achilles and the possibility of him playing this season, Berry had a measured response:
'It's probably too early to pin down how much time he'll miss, but he will miss significant time... I know there's been a lot of speculation about how he tore it, and it was just an unfortunate accident.'
The Browns are expected to address the quarterback position this offseason, with a gunslinger who has yet to join the team anticipated to be the Week 1 starter. Whether the franchise decides to explore veteran options in free agency or draft a talented rookie second overall, Deshaun Watson is not expected to return as the starter for the Cleveland Browns.
The team will most likely try to remain quiet on the situation as he continues to work through his re-torn Achilles.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns GM provides ominous outlook on QB Deshaun Watson

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New York Times
32 minutes ago
- New York Times
Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders focused on making steady improvement at Browns minicamp
BEREA, Ohio — Tuesday's practice was for the rookies, as the Cleveland Browns opened their mandatory minicamp and moved to the next phase of their four-man quarterback competition. Joe Flacco, the old man of the group at 40 years old and 17 seasons of experience, took no reps in competitive drills. Kenny Pickett, who turned 27 last week, was first in the warmup lines and first up in the late-practice red zone drill. But rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders got most of the passing work, and Gabriel was first up when the Browns' first-team offensive and defensive units took the field for the first 11-on-11 work of minicamp. Advertisement The Browns drafted Gabriel in the third round in April and took Sanders 50 picks later in the fifth round. Though the total number of reps the rookies have taken in previous practices open to reporters was close to equal, Sanders has worked only with backups, while Gabriel has mixed in with the starters both in organized team activities and now in full-squad minicamp. As he's done since rookie minicamp in May, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski continues to stress development and teaching points over actual evaluation at this stage of the competition. Sanders told reporters Tuesday that he's not worried about his current place in line. day one done ✅ — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 10, 2025 'My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as prepared as I can be,' Sanders said. 'So in every aspect I view things as I've got time — time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of defenses, be able to get the good insight from the vets in the (quarterback) room. 'I look at it as a plus. I've got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding of things, and whenever it is time for me to play, then it's time for me to play. But I'm not looking too far into the future about all that. I'm looking at every day in practice. I had some misses out there today that we've got to go in there and correct — reads, getting in and out of drops a little bit faster from under center. So that's the main thing. I'm focused on the small things, and over time, the big things will happen.' Whether Flacco mostly serving as an on-field mentor is a sign that he's leading the competition is open to interpretation. The same goes for just about every other aspect of things. Though the Browns splitting two groups on different practice fields to maximize reps and using linemen in 7-on-7 drills to simulate a crowded pocket has made spring practices at least a little bit unconventional, they're still spring practices. Three quarterbacks are new to the team, and Flacco is returning from a year in Indianapolis following his magical December 2023 run with Cleveland. Advertisement 'Just trying to be intentional about everything,' Stefanski said. 'Certainly, Joe had fewer reps today. That's obviously on purpose, and just trying to find out, get as much of an evaluation on the guys as we can. 'I'm pleased with all the young guys and their development. There's a lot that goes into this, and these guys work extremely hard. There are things in the NFL game that are just different. I think all these guys are making really good progress.' Gabriel was a bit erratic early in Tuesday's practice, but he was more accurate with his throws as the session went on. Gabriel's highlight throw came on a well-placed corner route to Jamari Thrash in a red zone 7-on-7 drill, while Sanders' best throw was probably his first: a deep ball over the middle to Gage Larvadain in the team's early 7-on-7 session. in stride and on time ⌚️ @ShedeurSanders — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 10, 2025 'Practice is no different than normal — what we grew up doing and what we did in college,' Sanders said. 'I just feel like I'm back in my element. It's fresh grass, you hear the birds outside, you understand what peace is at this point in life. So I'm back in my element. I'm excited to be here. 'Of course, I feel more comfortable here (now). I would say it is just a mindset, just an adjustment. You've got to go and understand the situation that you're in and be able to approach that and get the best out of it. There's no excuses, because when you get out there, nobody cares how many reps you got whenever you get in the game. Nobody cares if you took a snap before. Everybody cares about production. So that's the main thing when you get out there, you've got to be able to produce.' Gabriel and Sanders said they've relied on Flacco for advice on reading defenses and mastering the playbook. They've both stressed that the quarterback room is more fun than it is competitive, and that all four passers enjoy the process of installing and learning the offense. 'I think for the most part, it's more getting (Flacco and Pickett's) experiences, whether it's a certain concept or what they've done in the past, just as part of a daily routine,' Gabriel said. 'But it's also just shooting the s— and just being the guys, because I think that's when you're able to just connect in the most authentic way.' Advertisement Gabriel said his focus remains on 'continuous improvement' and that he's learning 'every single day.' As the Browns conclude minicamp with practices Wednesday and Thursday, Sanders said his approach remains similar. 'I know every day there's room for improvement in a lot of different areas in my game,' Sanders said. 'So I never feel full. I would say I'm always hungry, and there's a lot of aspects in football that I could get better at. 'It's the weight room. It's knowing the plays. It's physically … throwing different, trying to always get more precise with things. So I feel like I put in my day's work, but I know I'm far from where I want to be.'


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
'I got time to grow and mature': Shedeur Sanders battling at Browns camp
'I got time to grow and mature': Shedeur Sanders battling at Browns camp Show Caption Hide Caption Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he's not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins. Sports Pulse BEREA, Ohio – The road for Shedeur Sanders to become the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns is long – a lot longer than the 40 yards his right arm covered with his first rep of modified team drills during Cleveland's first minicamp practice Tuesday. Sanders dropped that pass in a bucket to wide receiver Gage Larvadain, a fellow rookie, on a go route down the right sideline that received a cheer from the gathered Browns employees and fans watching from the roof of the team's practice facility. It was the highlight of the day for Sanders and the entire Browns quarterback group – all four of them. Veteran Joe Flacco did not take many reps, and Kenny Pickett – acquired over the offseason from the Philadelphia Eagles – took the bulk of reps with the first-team offense. Dillon Gabriel, the Browns' third-round draft pick, was next in line and had all of the reps with the starters against the first-team defense during the 11-on-11 portion of practice. 'I view things as, 'I got time.' I got time to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and get the insight from the vets in the room,' Sanders said after practice. 'I look at it as a it's time for me to play, it's time for me to play. But I'm not really looking too far into the future.' In April, Sanders' selection in the fifth round baffled the NFL draft ecosystem while serving as an indictment of Sanders' play and how he and his father Deion Sanders, his college coach at Jackson State and Colorado and a Pro Football Hall of Famer, handled the pre-draft process. Since then, the confident bravado that lasted his entire college career has waned into a more traditional avatar of an NFL rookie not trying to draw much attention – positive or negative. To that end, Sanders said he could view the lack of reps negatively, or he can be proactive to stay warm so there's no excuses when his number is called. Because nobody cares about practice when it's game time, he said. 'When you get out there,' Sanders said, 'you got to be able to produce. 'Everything off the field, it is what it is, but everybody knows when it's time to get on that grass, you know who I am.' For Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, being intentional with the practice reps helps him evaluate the other three quarterbacks outside of Flacco, who's entering his 18th season in the league and played the 2023 season with the Browns following Deshaun Watson's season-ending shoulder surgery that year. 'All of them look pretty calm, efficient, going through their calls, making the plays they need to make,' defensive end Myles Garrett said. Sanders watched Pickett and Gabriel run their plays while holding his helmet in his right hand. Sometimes, he'd debrief with Flacco or quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave. Six reps at a time, though, Sanders tried to make the most of his turn at the front of the line. The waiting until that point is being treated as a life experience. 'Anything in life, you got to go through different things so you can understand the message God is trying to give you,' the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year said. That message was received loud and clear the night before minicamp began. Much like the night before his heavily-publicized pro day at Colorado two months ago, Sanders said he felt a higher power trying to reach him in his hotel room. Earlier in the day, Sanders said he'd spoken with pastors about his purpose. 'It's a lot going on, I'd say in my mind, and I understand what peace is,' said Sanders, who will go back to Texas and reset between the three days of practice this week and training camp. Tuesday's practice ended with red-zone, 7-on-7 work. Sanders displayed his quick-processing abilities by finding an open receiver over the middle at the goal line. 'I already have a different type of confidence about myself,' Sanders said. 'But when you go out there and you know the ins and outs of everything, then it's a whole different type of confidence. I'm definitely getting to that point. By the time training camp arrives in July, Sanders said, he plans on being there. Whether Stefanski and the Browns coaching staff agree or not will determine the direction of Sanders' rookie season.


New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Myles Garrett can't wait to put new division rival Aaron Rodgers ‘in the graveyard'
Myles Garrett wants to bury his new division rival Aaron Rodgers — figuratively, of course. Garrett has terrorized opposing quarterbacks his entire career, and Rodgers joining the AFC North by signing with the Steelers means one thing for the Browns superstar edge rusher: 'It's a good opportunity to put him in the graveyard,' Garrett joked Tuesday at Browns minicamp. 4 Myles Garrett joked Tuesday about putting new division rival Aaron Rodgers in a graveyard. X/ Andrew Siciliano 4 Browns' Myles Garrett laughs with reporters after making joke about Aaron Rodgers. X/ Andrew Siciliano With Rodgers signing to Pittsburgh, the two will square off at least twice this upcoming season, with 'graveyard' implications on the line. That's because Garrett's comment wasn't just a lighthearted jab on how he plans to sack Rodgers, it's a perfect reference to his Halloween shenanigans from years past — ones that he'd love to include Rodgers in. For Halloween in 2021, Garrett set up seven gravestones in his front yard, among other Halloween decorations. And the gravestones were special, as they consisted of all his AFC North rival quarterbacks at the time — Joe Burrow, Ben Roethlisberger and Lamar Jackson — as well as Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert and Justin Fields. Garrett is entering his ninth season in the NFL and has been nothing short of a nightmare for teams' offenses. 4 Aaron Rodgers in the Steelers' first minicamp practice. AP He's a six-time Pro Bowler, four-time first team All Pro selection, two-time second team All Pro selection and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Garrett has had at least 14 sacks in each of his last four seasons and hasn't had fewer than 10 since his rookie season when he recorded seven in 11 games. The 29-year-old defensive end has faced Rodgers just once in his career. Garrett had just one tackle and a quarterback hit. 4 Myles Garrett is one of the top defensive players in the NFL. AP While he may not have the experience taking on Rodgers, Garrett has played the Steelers 14 times across his career and recorded 44 total tackles and 13 sacks. Cleveland and Pittsburgh's first matchup in the 2025 season will be during prime spooky season on Oct. 12, so Garrett may have a golden opportunity to act on his graveyard comments and perhaps follow it up with the proper Halloween graveyard decorations to match.