David Chao, MD
2 min read • February 22, 2024
Posted in
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is on track to recover fully from right shoulder surgery by training camp, according to our panel of doctors.
Watson’s season was cut short with a glenoid fracture to the back of his right throwing shoulder, as our doctors opined by video in Week 10. The surgery was unavoidable as a glenoid fracture cannot be played through effectively as a quarterback without risking further damage. Without Watson, veteran Joe Flacco stepped in and had immediate success with Cleveland, leading them to the playoffs before they were bounced in the Wild Card round against the Houston Texans.
In 5 regular season games, Flacco averaged 323.2 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. In the Wild Card round defeat, Flacco threw for 307 yards and a touchdown, but threw two pick-6s in the second half.
Watson is reportedly set to begin throwing in March, meaning the team should be able to ramp up his throwing during OTAs and have him throwing fully by training camp. This will be helpful given the team has a new office of coordinator in former bills OC Ken Dorsey.
Under previous offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, Watson averaged 185.8 passing yards per game in six games with a completion percentage of 61.4%.
The bigger worry for Watson and Dorsey may be the health of the offensive line unit. Three key offensive lineman underwent season-ending surgery last regular season and will likely have their recoveries carry into next season. Veteran right tackle Jack Conklin suffered a torn ACL with MCL damage in mid September last season and likely will not be ready to start the year.
His replacement, rookie right tackle Dawand Jones, suffered a torn MCL in mid December and will be fortunate to be fully effective by the season opener. Left tackle Jedrick Wills has the best outlook as he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in mid December. Typically those types of surgeries have an offensive lineman back in 6 to 8 weeks which should have them available for the entire off-season program.
Running back Nick Chubb is likely the biggest question mark of all after the second multi-ligament left knee injury of his young career. By video, Chubb suffered a left knee dislocation in the opening game and underwent multiple surgeries to fix torn ligaments in his knee including the ACL, MCL and likely the PCL.
Given the severity of the injury, a return to his previous form by the middle of next season would be fantastic news. It is more realistic that he sees a reduced role in the office after the second catastrophic knee injury.
Written by David Chao, MD
