Browns’ Watson back at practice
Deshaun Watson whipped a short pass, pulled down on the face mask of his helmet and ducked before running across the field while trailing starter Jacoby Brissett and Cleveland's other quarterbacks. Watson is catching up. Still suspended, he is back on the field.
More than two months after he began serving an 11-game NFL suspension for sexual-misconduct allegations, Watson practiced Wednesday in what he and the Browns hope is the next step in him becoming their starting QB.
It was Watson's first on-field team workout since Aug. 30, 12 days after the three-time Pro Bowler reached a settlement with the league following accusations by more than two dozen women of sexually inappropriate behavior during massagetherapy sessions in Texas.
Watson, acquired in a trade from Houston in March, agreed to to pay a $5 million fine and to undergo treatment and counseling after the league ruled he had violated its personal-conduct policy.
Despite temperatures hovering around freezing, Watson wore an orange, short-sleeved No. 4 jersey with matching socks during the 25-minute portion of practice open to reporters. He tucked his hands into a warmer wrapped around his waist in between firing passes to Cleveland's wide receivers.
Watson did not speak to the media. He was cordial while getting ready in the locker room before practice and chuckled about the “chilly” weather that welcomed him back.
As long as he continues to meet the provisions of his settlement, Watson will play his first regular-season game in 700 days on Dec. 4 when the Browns visit Houston. The Texans drafted him in 2017 before he demanded a trade and was dealt to Cleveland for a slew of draft picks, including three first-rounders.
The Browns then signed Watson to a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract, the richest in league history.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski would not reveal any specifics about plans to get Watson ready to play in two weeks.
“This is the next step for him, and it's good to have him back out on the field,” Stefanski said. Quarterback news: Matthew Stafford is expected to play for the Rams on Sunday after missing a game in the NFL's concussion protocol.
Stafford practiced Wednesday, and he's on track to come out of the protocol in time to face the Saints in New Orleans, head coach Sean McVay said.
• New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen said Andy Dalton will start against L.A. over season-opening starter Jameis Winston, saying the anemic offensive performance of the past two games stems from more than the performance of a single player.
• Taylor Heinicke is set to start again for the Commanders at Houston on Sunday, head coach Ron Rivera said. Carson Wentz did not take part in the team's walkthrough and instead worked out on a practice field.
• Carolina's Baker Mayfield returns to the starting lineup Sunday against the Ravens. P.J. Walker, who replaced Mayfield in Week 5, is out with an ankle injury.
Briefly: The Eagles put tight end Dallas Goedert on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph . ... The Texans claimed receiver Amari Rodgers, a 2021 third-round pick, off waivers after he was cut by Green Bay. He has 95 receiving yards in 1½ seasons.