Deshaun Watson placed on PUP, out for the first four games

The Cleveland Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday, ensuring he will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season as he continues to recover from a torn right Achilles tendon and a January rerupture. The move formalizes what had been expected after Watson tore the tendon on Oct. 20, 2024, and underwent a second surgery this year.

Under NFL rules, players on the reserve PUP list cannot practice or play for the first four games. After that period teams have a five week window to allow a player to begin practicing; once a player returns to practice the club has 21 days to activate him to the 53 man roster or leave him on PUP for the rest of the season. If he is not activated in that time he must remain on the list until the following year, the team said.

Cleveland has already set its Week 1 depth chart around veteran Joe Flacco, who will start, with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders serving as backup and third-string, respectively. The Browns traded away Kenny Pickett this offseason and have been evaluating Gabriel and Sanders in training camp and preseason, coach Kevin Stefanski said. Stefanski also praised...