The Cleveland Browns are optimistic that quarterback Deshaun Watson will be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. He is coming off what Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer called an “uncommon shoulder” procedure.

“The hard part with Watson’s injury, a displaced fracture of the glenoid bone, is that it’s rare among NFL quarterbacks, with no recent precedent,” Cabot explained in an updated report on Thursday night. “But he’s experienced good range of motion, minimal pain and has hit all of his milestones along the way.”

Watson began throwing last week at UCLA, the latest step in his recovery. Cabot noted that “all of the progress reports have been stellar, including the eyewitness account of [Browns senior vice president of player health/development Joe Sheehan] last week.” Watson wants to host another passing camp for teammates at some point this offseason but “will have to work within the parameters of his carefully prescribed protocol if doctors permit it,” she explained.

Watson agreed to a historic fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract to join the Browns from the Houston Texans in March 2022. He missed the first 11 games of his debut Cleveland season while serving a suspension related to accusations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions, and he appeared in just six contests this past campaign before his shoulder issue left him needing surgery.

Across fewer than 12 full games with the Browns, Watson completed 204-of-341 passes (59.8%) for 2,217 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Needless to say, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski expected better from the 28-year-old considering he earned three Pro Bowl nods during his Houston tenure.

The Browns replaced offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with Ken Dorsey and then picked Jameis Winston over fan-favorite Joe Flacco as Watson’s primary backup this offseason to make Watson feel more “comfortable” during his rehab.

He is likely heading into a make-or-break season regarding his future in Cleveland. The Browns could look to escape his contract as soon as next offseason if he either disappoints with his play or fails to start more than a handful of games for a third consecutive year.