Browns' Deshaun Watson Placed on PUP to Open NFL Season amid Achilles Injury Rehab

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the 2025 season ahead of Tuesday's roster cutdown deadline.

Watson underwent surgery in January after re-tearing the right Achilles tendon that ended his 2024 season in October.

His PUP placement follows the Browns' decision to trade Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

The Browns will head into the 2025 season with Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as the only quarterbacks on their 53-man roster.

After entering training camp with four quarterbacks potentially vying for the starting position, the Browns officially named Flacco as their starting quarterback on Aug. 18.

Rookies Gabriel and Sanders will now compete to serve as his primary backup, while Watson will continue recovering from the latest of the injuries that have derailed his last two seasons.

Watson underwent his initial Achilles surgery on Oct. 25. He then rolled his ankle in January and suffered a re-rupture of the tendon, according to a statement from the team.

The Browns stated in January that Watson's "recovery time and return to play status is uncertain, and he will likely miss significant time during the 2025 season."

The PUP list placement confirms that Watson will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

Watson has started just 19 games since he signed his five-year contract with $230 million in fully guaranteed money to join the Browns in 2022.

The Browns restructured Watson's contract ahead of the 2025 season in order to remain compliant with the NFL salary cap, per ESPN's Field Yates.

Watson remains under contract through the 2026 season, with void years stretching through 2029, per Spotrac.

The lingering impact of Watson's contract means the decision to sign him will continue impacting the Browns, whether or not the quarterback is able to play in 2025.

With Watson on the PUP list, Pickett leaving Cleveland and Flacco settled as QB1, the Browns' attention will now turn to deciding whether Gabriel and Sanders will serve as backup when the team opens the 2025 season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.