Following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury and shoulder surgery midway through last year, Cleveland Browns fans are wondering one thing – will he be ready for the start of next season?
To address some of those questions and concerns, Watson recently made an appearance on the Lockerverse to put people’s minds at ease (via Lockerverse on YouTube.)
To quote his exact words, Watson said that, “The situation is good. We’re in a great spot. Right where we need to be … everything’s been going pretty smooth.”
Watson went on to say that he’s feeling good with how everything is progressing and that his medical team – doctors and physical therapists – are all happy with his progress and they’re all on the same page.
Probably the best news of all is that Watson is finally able to throw the football again, as he had a recent throwing session.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski also mentioned at a recent coach’s meeting that Watson was throwing and that things are going smoothly.
When asked specifically about the throwing session, Watson said that it went well and that his shoulder feels good.
He did mention, however, that he’s in the earliest stages of rehab in terms of throwing the ball and that he’ll need to take baby steps.
In other words, while everything is going well and his recovery is right on track, it will be a while before we see Watson throwing deep balls during scrimmages.
However, the mere fact that he’s able to throw again and that everyone is in agreement that his recovery is going well is a good sign that he’ll be ready for opening day.
Browns GM offers lukewarm update on Nick Chubb
Andrew Berry’s latest update on Nick Chubb wasn’t much of an update
Cleveland Browns, Nick Chubb / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Chubb was sorely missed last season. The Cleveland Browns finished with an 11-6 record despite Chubb missing 15 games but the offense didn’t look the same without No. 24.
A low hit from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick resulted in a torn ACL and MCL for the veteran running back. It also required two separate surgeries to repair. With training camp coming into focus, the question of when Chubb will be available continues to arise.
While at the NFL owners’ meetings, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry again spoke on the subject. And as has been the case for much of the offseason, Berry didn’t have much of an update.
“Honestly, it is probably too early to really understand what he’s going to look like,” Berry said via The Akron Beacon Journal. “He’s doing truly doing a fantastic job with the rehab and he should start to load run probably sometime this upcoming month.”
Berry added that the next few months will be telling for Chubb and then praised him once again for the work he’s put in to return to health.
Nick Chubb could miss the first quarter of the season
Chubb will turn 29 later this season, which isn’t exactly young for a running back. He’s also dealing with a second serious injury to the same knee — he tore the ACL in 2015 while at the University of Georgia. Those factors have led the Browns to take a conservative approach with Chubb’s return, another subject Berry dove into.
Cleveland put themselves in a position to do this by signing D’Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines this offseason. Early indications were that Chubb could miss the first quarter of the season and if that’s the case, Foreman, Jerome Ford, and Hines will be more than capable of carrying the load.
The important thing will be making sure Chubb is 100 percent healthy. Looking at the long-term is the correct approach, especially since a healthy and refreshed Chubb late in the season would be far more beneficial than having him in September.
