Browns' Deshaun Watson opens up about his absences, confidence level

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson remains confident he will once again play at a high level even though he's made just 12 regular-season starts since the end of the 2020 campaign.

"I missed a lot of football," Watson acknowledged while speaking with reporters on Tuesday, as shared by Fred Greetham of 247Sports. "I took off one year in '21, '22 I had a suspension, then last year, an unfortunate injury. So that's one thing that you can't ask to get is the time you have to be available and I wasn't available the last two years for whatever circumstances. But God willing, just taking them one day at a time and when I am available, those reps will come and I continue to get better."

Watson sat for all of the 2021 season after he requested to be traded by the Houston Texans. Houston eventually granted that wish by sending him to Cleveland in March 2022, but he missed the first 11 games of the subsequent campaign because of a suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. The three-time Pro Bowl selection then played in just six games last season before a shoulder injury left him needing surgery.

Following Cleveland's 45-14 wild-card playoff loss at Houston this past January, the Browns replaced offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with Ken Dorsey because individuals within the organization reportedly believe Dorsey can "construct an offense that comforts Watson and maximizes his skill set." Watson's skill set won't mean much to the Browns if he experiences any type of physical setback before September.

"Game one is not for another two-and-a-half (months), 90-something days," Watson said about his ongoing recovery. "So, I'm in a very comfortable spot, and, like I said before, just taking it one day at a time and just keep going from there."

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Watson seventh among the betting favorites at +2000 odds to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award for the 2024 season. He spoke on Tuesday like somebody who plans to be a full participant when training camp opens in late July.

"I'm a self-confident person," Watson said. "I know the work that I put in. I know the doctors and everybody that's been working with me, and that's where it starts, and then when you get on the field you just got to go out there and do it and participate a little bit and see what you can do."