Browns’ Watson had injury scare during celebrity softball game

Quarterback Deshaun Watson gave fans and individuals within the Cleveland Browns a slight scare during a celebrity softball game hosted by Cleveland tight end David Njoku this past weekend.

For a piece updated on Monday morning, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that Watson collided with Browns tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden in the first inning of Saturday’s contest as the signal-caller made a play on a pop-up. While Watson remained on the ground for several seconds, he eventually rose to his feet and gestured that he was fine.

“I was good,” Watson later told Cabot.

Watson participated in the softball game even though he made just six starts this past NFL season before he was shut down because of an injury to his throwing shoulder that left him needing surgery. 

The 28-year-old signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract with the Browns in March 2022 but missed the first 11 games of his debut campaign with the organization due to a suspension related to accusations of sexual misconduct.

“When I found out he flipped, I was like, ‘Man, I hope I didn’t hurt him,'” Mitchell-Paden said about the collision with Watson. “I didn’t hear him saying, ‘It’s me, it’s me, it’s me,’ so once I saw him in my periphery, I stopped and moved out of the way, but I’m glad he’s OK.”

Cabot mentioned that Watson didn’t bat during the softball game as he recovers from the shoulder issue. On Sunday, Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand pointed out that “the Browns say that Watson is on schedule to be ready for the start of the regular season.”

Cleveland opens the upcoming campaign with a home game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 8.

“I was really, really happy that Deshaun was not hurt at all,” Mitchell-Paden added about what could have become a franchise-altering moment considering some believe the Browns could move on from Watson next offseason if he fails to stay healthy or disappoints with his play this fall.

On Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Browns’ over/under win total for the 2024 season at 8.5. Cleveland finishing Week 18 at 8-9 or worse coming off a playoff appearance could result in the club looking for an advertised upgrade at quarterback by March 2025.