As the Browns face the 2025 season, Deshaun Watson's injury setback puts Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco in line to start. Will the team carry four QBs?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Cleveland Browns' 2025 season is already being defined by a single, crucial question: When will Deshaun Watson be ready? An ongoing setback with his Achilles recovery has sent ripples of uncertainty through the organization, forcing the front office to consider a highly unusual contingency plan: carrying four quarterbacks, including rookie Shedeur Sanders, on the active roster.
The addition of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has prompted the Browns to consider keeping four quarterbacks on their active roster... a move that reflects the team's uncertainty at the position.
The optimism surrounding Deshaun Watson's return has been tempered by news of a setback in his Achilles recovery. With the timeline for his return to full strength now murky, the Browns are staring down the barrel of starting the season without their $230 million man. This puts veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco squarely in the spotlight as potential Week 1 starters. The wait-and-see approach is a nerve-wracking position for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, making every update from the medical staff the most watched storyline heading into training camp.
How do you solve a problem like Deshaun? The Browns' potential answer is... more quarterbacks. The team is reportedly weighing the option of keeping four QBs on the 53-man roster: the recovering Watson, Pickett, Flacco, and rookie Shedeur Sanders. This is a rare strategy in the modern NFL, signaling a lack of confidence in any single backup option and a desire to protect their investment in Sanders. It's a clear hedge against the worst-case scenario with Watson, but it comes at the cost of a valuable roster spot elsewhere.
Amidst the quarterback chaos, there's a significant silver lining on the offensive line. Dawand Jones, who suffered a season-ending broken fibula in Week 11 last year, is back, healthy, and participating in the voluntary offseason program. After letting Jedrick Wills Jr. walk in free agency, the Browns are counting on Jones to not just return, but to thrive as the long-term solution at left tackle. His rookie form was impressive, and with the departure of legendary coach Bill Callahan, Jones' ability to anchor the blindside for whichever QB is under center is more critical than ever. His return to a healthy playing weight is a fantastic sign for a unit that needs him to be a star.
As the Browns break before training camp, two narratives will dominate the conversation. The first is the health of Deshaun Watson's Achilles, a situation that holds the team's fate in its balance. The second is the development of the men tasked with protecting him, headlined by the welcome return of Dawand Jones. How these two storylines unfold in late summer will determine whether the Browns are navigating a quarterback crisis or gearing up for a championship run.
