Deshaun Watson heads into opener confident after offseason win of defying odds, making it back from shoulder surgery

BEREA — Deshaun Watson considered the offseason a huge victory.Now the NFL starts keeping track of wins and losses.Watson cleared every hurdle in his return from a broken bone in his right shoulder. He had surgery in November, began throwing in March and checked each pass off the list by June. He wasn't listed on the season's first injury report Wednesday and is good to go for the opener Sunday against the Cowboys at the newly named Huntington Bank Field.Myles Garrett on never feeling like a special athlete, avoiding 'greatest' discussions and the legacy he wants to leave"The emotions is super high," he said. "Just getting back for the first game, the start of the season, getting out there and just letting all the hard work that you put in the offseason show on the field."And just being back in the locker room, just to be prepping again is one of my biggest wins this offseason. Just to be able to make it back to Week 1 and be in a position I am to go out there and compete Sunday to help this team win."#Browns QB Deshaun Watson on making it back from shoulder surgery and being ready for Week 1. pic.twitter.com/ByGGZbcZdg— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 4, 2024https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWhen Watson saw his 2023 season end after his best and gutsiest performance — 14-for-14 passing in the second half of a comeback win Nov. 12 in Baltimore despite the shoulder injury and a high ankle sprain — then had surgery nine days later, being back for the opener wasn't guaranteed."No one knew exactly where it was going to lead to," he said. "When we first had the surgery back in November, it could have been now as we're sitting here today or it could have been a whole year, which would've been in November. So it was very broad."The most important test came in the spring before the Browns took a six-week break before training camp.Browns stadium to be called Huntington Bank Field — wherever it may be"I challenged myself to get back to this moment right now and I wanted to make every throw in the spring and I did that," he said. "And so going into the summer and training camp, everything else was just kind of building the strength and just building the endurance with the shoulder."Watson went from throwing every other day throughout the offseason to a singular designated rest day in training camp. The only real blip came Aug. 21 when the arm got sore and he was advised to stop throwing. He resumed the next day and said he was never worried."I could have finished the practice, but it was a medical decision where they just told me any type of soreness or anything you're feeling, we're going to take the high road and not try to push anything," Watson said. "The key is to play 17-plus games, not finish training camp and try to be a superhero at the time. I've been well and just taking it one day at a time."#Browns Deshaun Watson making throws. pic.twitter.com/z6VVFpOv9p— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 4, 2024https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsCoach Kevin Stefanski trusted the process and was rewarded with his starting quarterback ready for the opener."I've had total trust both in him and in our medical team every step along the way," he said. "Rehabbing through that injury, just watching him work in the training room, watch him throw in the indoor, get him back out there to practice, he's just taken it every step by step and done a nice job with it to this point where I just feel very confident in where he is."Watson has similar faith in the revamped offensive system that's a collaboration between Stefanski and new coordinator Ken Dorsey. Watson and many of the starters didn't play in the preseason, so the opener will be its introduction to the NFL."Everyone's super confident," Watson said. "Kevin and Ken did a heckuva job this camp of making sure we dial in everything that we're super good at, everything that we're very efficient at and just put it out there and get the guys in the right place to make those plays."We got to take it one week at a time, one game at a time. And if we can do that and focus on the game plan that Kevin and Ken put together, then we can go out there and be a high-powered offense that we expect."The Browns may need that Sunday against quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb, tight end Jake Ferguson and the Cowboys offense that led the league in points last year with 29.9 per game. Dallas ranked third in passing (258.6 yards) and fifth in total offense (371.6)."I'm up for any challenge, so I'm not afraid of anything," Watson said of the potential of a shootout.As painful as the injury was in many ways, including keeping him from the run to the playoffs, Watson used it as a chance to reset before his eighth season. He made three straight Pro Bowls with the Texans from 2018-20 but has played only 12 games with mixed results in two seasons with the Browns after a blockbuster and controversial trade."We went back to the basics, started from scratch," Watson said. "The injury definitely helped just because I had to start over, throwing motion mechanics, taking care of my body, eating right … and just focusing on what do I need to do to get back to the elite level and feeling good each and every week. And we really locked in on that."We sat down together, we put out a plan and we followed that plan and that process and I feel really, really well, feel very explosive, locked in on my tasks, on the game, endurance, everything. So I'm excited to go out there and show what I got on Sunday and with all the hard work that I put in."#Browns QB Deshaun Watson said he started from scratch again this offseason. Feels preparation has been great and he's ready for season. pic.twitter.com/1i3soVdeT9— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 4, 2024https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsDespite the preseason rankings of many experts who have him as an afterthought, Watson still considers himself among the elite quarterbacks."Of course, no doubt," he said.He insists the motivation for this season comes from within and not those overlooking or belittling him."Just being the best Deshaun Watson I can be for myself and then just for the team," he said. "It's just self-motivation."The post Deshaun Watson heads into opener confident after offseason win of defying odds, making it back from shoulder surgery first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.