Browns QB Watson may start
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson practiced Thursday for the second straight day and signs point to him starting Sunday against Arizona after missing most of the past month with a right shoulder injury.
Watson was the first Cleveland QB to take reps in passing drills, an indication the Browns (4-3) are preparing him to face the Cardinals (1-7).
His passes were tight, on target, and thrown with similar velocity to what he displayed in Wednesday’s workout, which was indoors. Watson looked just as good outside during the 20minute period open to media members Thursday.
Watson has started just one of four games since initially injuring his throwing shoulder against Tennessee on Sept. 24.
The Browns will see how his shoulder responds to a heavy workload before making any decisions about Sunday.
Watson wasn’t ready to proclaim his return to the field this weekend before he passed the eye test in practice.
“I’m not even sure, just following the medical protocols and we’ll just go from there,” Watson said. “It’s part of the process. It’s part of the protocols because you can’t cannot throw and then just go out there to try to play a game.
“So it’s just part of the process and we just take it day by day.”
Watson suffered a rotator cuff strain in the Titans game when he took a shot to the back of his shoulder on a running play. He has missed three games entirely and played just 12 snaps after starting at Indianapolis on Oct. 22 and falling on his shoulder.
Watson, who has played only 10 of 24 possible games for Cleveland since being acquired in a trade and signing a $230 million contract, acknowledged that he made a mistake in rushing back to play against the Colts.
Hill: ‘Find Kelce’
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has offered advice to the Miami defense in preparation for Sunday's game at Frankfurt, Germany, against his former team: “Just find Kelce.”
Hill described Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as “the energy of that team” who has a knack of finding space when quarterback Patrick Mahomes is scrambling.
“What I’ve been telling the guys to do is just find Kelce,” Hill said after practice. “If you allow Kelce to get open, he’s like the energy of that team, although Pat is like all-world.
“But if he finds Kelce and Kelce just catches a 2-yard pass, he just somehow finds energy in that and gets that team going.”
In his six seasons in Kansas City, Hill said, the Chiefs’ receivers were well-coached about what to do when Mahomes starts moving.
“They got a whole PowerPoint on it and everything,” said Hill, now in his second season in Miami. “It’s crazy, it’s ridiculous. It’s like, ‘When Pat goes this way, you guys need to be doing this, that, that.’ ”
Jets’ Brown practices
Jets offensive tackle Duane Brown returned to practice and was a full participant, beginning the 21-day window for him to be activated from the injured reserve list.
The 38-year-old Brown has been sidelined the past five games with a hip injury and a shoulder ailment. It's uncertain if he’ll be ready to play Monday night against the Chargers, but his impending return will be a big boost to an offensive line that has been hit hard by injuries.
Bears sign DL Billings
The Bears signed defensive lineman Andrew Billings toa two-year contract extension through 2025, the club announced. General manager Ryan Poles said in a statement the team was “excited to be able to keep Andrew in Chicago.”
Poles cited Billings’s professionalism, dependability, and toughness as attributes they want in the organization.
Billings, at 6 feet, 1 inch, 311 pounds, signed with the Bears as a free agent in March.
He’s started all eight games this season with 14 tackles and a three stops behind the line of scrimmage.