WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va – As Deshaun Watson stood in the pocket and surveyed the field, analyzing how the defense schemed the offense and who was open, he found WR Amari Cooper running down the sideline. The ball sailed through the air and Cooper reached out to grab and pull the ball down to make the play.
Watson officially hit a personal milestone of his shoulder recovery of making it to training camp and being able to participate. Watson said he is on track and where he and the doctors want him to be in his recovery process.
"This is the goal to get the training camp and have no limit," Watson said. "Each day is a milestone for me until we get to game one. So, just trying to get better, just trying to continue to get back to the person I feel like I am and just keep working each and every day."
The Browns still have a plan in place for Watson's throwing schedule. When the Browns held OTAs and minicamp in June, Watson was on a schedule of every other day throwing live reps, while taking the mental reps of each throw on the days off.
Yet, through the first two days of training camp, Watson has taken the reps in individual drills and in the 11-on-11 period. He's connected on passes with a multitude of his pass catchers, like his wide receivers in Cooper and Elijah Moore, as well as practicing handoffs with his running backs.
After his first day throwing in the 11-on-11 period in training camp, Watson said his goal is to focus on one play at a time and execute the play against the defensive scheme with either completions or positive yards. He felt comfortable stacking back-to-back days throwing in those environments. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said they will continue to make smart decisions about his throwing schedule throughout training camp.
"Just sitting down and talking with him. He feels that he's ready to go again," Stefanski said. "Again, we'll be smart with all of our guys – especially our quarterback – we'll be smart with what we ask him to do and as we bring him along, if you will. But he's very excited and feels good."
As the Browns work to install a new offensive system under new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Stefanski said Watson is assimilating well to the new system. Stefanski explained how Dorsey includes the wide receivers in a meeting with the quarterbacks to discuss different concepts and create space for the dialogue among the group. There's a possibility that the Browns play a more up-tempo speed with Dorsey's offense and the idea of running as many plays as possible. For Watson, that's all he's known throughout his football career.
Check out photos of the team during the second day of Training Camp at The Greenbrier
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Dyshawn Gales (49) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (83) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Matt Landers (89) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Fullback Giovanni Ricci (44) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
The Defensive backs during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Vincent Gray (31) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
A football during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Assistant Athletic Trainer Stefan Varner during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley and Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
The team during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Davis (50) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Jalen Camp (84) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5), Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) and Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Justin Hardee Sr. (28) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Brady Breeze (39) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (60) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (60) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Player Development Coordinator Anthony Fabiano during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Senior Personnel/ Coaching Executive Bob Quinn during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Player Development Coordinator Anthony Fabiano during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (96) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (96) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Director of Player Development Carson Walch during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Cornerback Dyshawn Gales (49) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) and Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during Day 2 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 26, 2024.
With the beginning of training camp and the 2024 season in sight, Watson wants to take a positive step forward. He's confident in his ability to come back strong for the 2024 season.
The 2024 offseason was an important one for Watson as he returned from the shoulder injury he sustained during the 2023 season and had surgery for in Nov. 2023 that ended his 2023 campaign. He continued his rehab and recovery and worked through each of the steps to make sure his body and mindset were in the right space. He took positive steps during OTAs and minicamp – progressing from throwing every other day to then throwing in 7-on-7 drills in minicamp – and another in training camp.
"Last year I thought that was going to be the year where I can play a full year and get a full season under my belt, and the injury happened," Watson said. "So, I was there very disappointed, not just because I couldn't show exactly what I can do for this organization. And, yeah, I understand that they put a lot into me, but sometimes the injuries you can't control. So, a lot of things kind of didn't fall in place the last few years but praying and taking one day at a time that everything I'm going to do this year."
Some of his teammates have noticed a difference in Watson from the end of last season. As a fellow leader of the Browns, DE Myles Garrett has always seen a level of determination from Watson in his time with the Browns. However, Garrett has observed a positive change in Watson – one that can prove beneficial for the entirety of the team.
"I think really his spirit has really grown as far as being more excited to be in the building, being happy, being around," Garrett said. "I think he was sometimes just a little down with the situation with his shoulder, just wanting to be out there with the guys. Wanting to be in a position where he can support and lead. It's hard to lead from the side. It's hard to lead when you're not able to play and lead by example. Some of those things would just really have him down, but I think as his health continued to improve, his spirit started to grow again. He started to really get back into his groove and feel like that player and that leader again. It's been nice to see him grow back into himself."
