As the Browns prepare for the season opener against the Cowboys at Huntington Bank Field, the excitement for the 2024 season circulated around the locker room and practice field.
There's an added layer of emotion for QB Deshaun Watson. When Watson takes the field on Sunday, it will be his first game since November 2023.
"Getting back for the first game, the start of the season, getting out there and just letting all the hard work that you put in, in the off season show on the field," Watson said. "To be back in the locker room, be prepping again is one of my biggest wins this offseason to be able to make it back to Week One and be in the position I am to go out there and compete Sunday to help this team win."
He spent the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery for a displaced fracture to the glenoid that he sustained during the 2023 season.
Watson dealt with a shoulder injury since the third week of the 2024 season, when he first suffered an injury to his rotator cuff in Week 3 against the Titans. He missed Week 4 and Week 6 of the season but returned for Week 7 against the Colts. He then took a hit to the shoulder and was out for the remainder of the game, as well as Week 8 against the Seahawks. Watson returned Week 9 to lead the Browns to a win over the Cardinals, as well as a comeback win over the Ravens in Week 10 when he sustained the final shoulder injury. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve and underwent the surgery in November.
Following the surgery, Watson continued to make progress throughout the offseason and hit different milestones along the way. Those milestones ranged from throwing every other day in the offseason programs, then in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills and participating in team drills during training camp.
He also participated in the joint practices with the Vikings and took the majority of the reps against Minnesota's first-team defense. However, Watson did not play in any of the three preseason games.
Watson said one of his biggest milestones was his level of progress in May. It was an internal goal he set for himself.
"When we first had the surgery back in November, no one knew exactly where it was going to lead to," Watson said. "It could have been now as we sit here today, or it could have been a whole year, which would have been in November. So, it was very broad. But I challenged myself to get back to this moment right now, and I wanted to make every throw in the spring. And I did that. I was able to make every throw that Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache put out there on the table for me. And I was able to do that before spring broke. And so going into the summer and training camp, everything else was just building the strength and building the endurance with the shoulder."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their first regular season game this week against the Dallas Cowboys at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and the defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) and Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
The defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Tulu Griffin (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Over the course of the offseason, Watson said he went back to the basics and started from scratch with his preparation for the 2024 season. With his team of doctors and trainers, they created a plan and followed its course.
Watson said he started over with his throwing motion, the mechanics and how he took care of his body. They built from the ground up to put him in a position where he feels confident in his shoulder and his throwing ability.
"I feel really well," Watson said. "I feel very explosive, locked in on my tasks, on the game, endurance, everything. So, I'm excited to go out there and show what I got on Sunday and with all the hard work that I've put in."
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has seen that work from Watson throughout the entirety of the offseason, and how his dedication to the rehab process put him in a position for the beginning of the 2024 season. Now, as the Browns prepare to take on the Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2023 season, he believes Watson is ready to lead the Browns.
"I've had total trust both in him and in our medical team to every step along the way, getting him back," Stefanski said. "So, rehabbing through that injury, just watching him work in the training room, watching him throw in the indoor, get him back out there to practice, I think he's just taken it every step-by-step and done a nice job with it to this point where I just feel very confident in where he is."
