Deshaun Watson will not be activated from PUP list by Browns; Shedeur Sanders remains QB1

Deshaun Watson will not be activated by the Cleveland Browns before his 21-day practice window closes, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Tuesday. The decision means the quarterback will not play at all this season and will continue recovering from his Achilles injury suffered last season.

"He's done a great job with everything that's been asked of him," said Stefanski. "I've gotten to see him, whether it's in the training room, by himself with the trainers, on the practice field now for the last little bit.

"Just felt like this was the right decision for him and for us. His focus will be to continue to help this football team and continue to get healthy and stronger."

Watson had his 21-day practice window opened on Dec. 3 and the Browns had until Wednesday to elevate him to the active roster or his chances at playing this season would be over. He will now remain on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list for the final two weeks of the regular season.

Keeping Watson on the PUP list means that he will not be allowed to practice outdoors with the team and will instead work out on his own inside the team's facility.

With Watson out, the Browns' quarterback depth chart includes rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, as well as Bailey Zappe.

Sanders has played six games and made five starts this season, throwing for 1,103 yards, 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, while being sacked 15 times.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Browns plan to keep Watson on their roster for the 2026 season barring "something unforeseen."

Next season is the last one on Watson's fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, or at least the final one in which he'll be obligated to play for the team. After that come the voided years.

Per OverTheCap, Watson will carry an $80.7 million cap hit for 2026, the largest number in the history of the NFL. Still, it's preferable to the $131.2 million in dead money they would incur by cutting him loose before June 1. If they cut him after June 1, they would still save zero money against the cap.

Watson hasn't played in a game since rupturing his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, 2024. After undergoing surgery, he re-ruptured it in January.