Browns GM expects Watson to be ready for opener

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that he expects quarterback Deshaun Watson to ready for the season opener.

“We feel really good about it,” Berry said Thursday. “I’m not going to make any predictions, just because you just never know. But that’s certainly our expectation.”

Watson underwent season-ending surgery in November to repair a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his throwing shoulder. He started only six games in his second year with the Browns while dealing with another shoulder injury earlier in the season.

Watson said earlier this week that he was throwing “full speed” again as he continues to rehabilitate the right shoulder.

“Everything is full motion,” Watson said Tuesday after reporting for Cleveland’s offseason program. “Everything is fluid and motion is really good. The velocity and the strength is really good.”

Berry added that Watson is now throwing up to 40 yards.

“We have a regular cadence, regular checkpoint points. … He’s in a pretty good spot,” Berry said. “I don’t want to put the cart in front of the horse. But he’s progressing as appropriate. We’re really pleased with the work that he’s put in and really pleased with how the shoulder is responding. But we’re still in the middle of a rehab process, so we know that it can take different, left and right, turns. But we’re pretty optimistic in terms of what we’ve seen so far.”

Watson said he didn’t know when he’d feel 100 percent again or be cleared to practice without restrictions. But he did say he’s hoping to participate in OTA and minicamp practices while noting that would hinge on how his shoulder reacts in the coming days.

“It can be sooner than later, it can be later than sooner,” Watson said. “This is an injury that, for spring, you want to be a little bit more conservative. This summer you get ready for training camp. That’s going to be a time where we can pick that up.”

Watson has three seasons left on the $230 million fully guaranteed deal he signed with the Browns in March 2022.

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