Browns QB Deshaun Watson Makes Major Announcement

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is officially off the market.

Watson celebrated his wedding this week to his longtime partner Jilly Anais. The duo tied the knot in Miami on Thursday.

“I finally made it to this moment. Now, I’m here to say, I’m finna get married in a day,” Watson wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. “And I look to the sky and I say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ More GLORY!”

Watson and Anais announced the engagement on social media in March. The couple posted photos and the caption, “Mrs. Watson Loading…” They have been dating for over five years, predating his time with the Browns.

Jilly Anais Gushes Over Browns QB Deshaun Watson

Anais has stood by Watson despite his very public off-field issues. Watson missed 11 games in 2022 due to a suspension stemming from more than 20 allegations of sexual assault. He also paid a $5 million fine as part of a settlement for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Anais recently opened up to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit about the wedding.

“ I’m just in this bridal glow,” Anais said. “It’s the happiest moment of my life. Every time I think about it, I get chills …  I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and I just can’t wait to marry the love of my life.”

The duo is skipping the traditional wedding party and instead has chosen to keep it close to home, having their brothers stand beside them as Man of Honor and Best Man.

“ It’s just been us, it is us, this is about us, and I know it’s different not to have bridesmaids and groomsmen, but we were just like, we don’t wanna do all of that,” Anais says. “Of course, all of our friends are gonna be there, they’re coming with bells and whistles on, but we were like, we just wanna do the darn thing with just us.”

Deshaun Watson’s NFL Future Uncertain

Watson may have secured his personal future off the field, but the path forward in the NFL remains murky. He is still recovering from his second Achilles surgery. And while the team hasn’t ruled out a return this season, there’s no clear timeline for when, or if, he’ll be back under center.

Watson could be medically cleared to return as early as October, which would be approximately nine months after his most recent surgery. But Browns owner Jimmy Haslam recently referred to the 2022 trade for Watson as a “swing and miss,” a candid admission that suggests the franchise is preparing to move forward, even though Watson remains under contract through the 2026 season.

“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam said. “We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.

Cleveland is also evaluating a crowded quarterback room that includes veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. If any of them emerge as a viable starter, the Browns could be forced to make tough decisions about Watson’s role moving forward.