Deshaun Watson 'rotating days' throwing during OTAs, but Browns QB 'looks like himself'

BEREA — Deshaun Watson didn't throw during the Browns' second offseason team activity session on Wednesday. To say the quarterback was an idle observer, however, would not accurately describe his participation.

Watson was involved in virtually every drill, including 11-on-11, during the first OTA which was open to the media. About the only parts of practice the quarterback stood behind the huddle and didn't actively participate were during the 7-on-7 portion as well as some individual throwing drills.

Even on those drills, Watson would be behind the play, doing a pantomime of whatever the play was being run by either backup quarterback Jameis Winston or No. 3 quarterback Tyler Huntley. On plays when he was in and it called for a pass, he would mimic the pass without the ball in his hand.

“We're rotating days for now," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said at the end of Wednesday's roughly 90-minute practice. "That will change as we get into mini-camp (June 11-13), obviously as we get into training camp. But for right now, he'll be throwing every other day.”

Wednesday was the "other day" for Watson, who continues to rebuild his arm strength after having shoulder surgery on Nov. 21. He threw during Tuesday's OTA practice, mostly during individual drills, but that practice session was closed to the media.

Watson did not speak to the media at the conclusion of Wednesday's practice.

Watson started to throw again for the first time on March 19 while rehabbing in Los Angeles. While he's been there, several Browns players, including newcomers like free-agent running back Nyheim Hines, have stopped by and taken part in some of those workouts.

"Honestly, he's still working through his rehab but sometimes doesn't feel like it," Hines said Wednesday. "I've caught some passes from him; they have the zip on it. I played against Deshaun nine or 10 years. He's probably one of the only people I've seen where every time I've played him he's gotten better, him and (Baltimore Ravens quarterback) Lamar Jackson.

"So I'm excited to work with him finally after playing against him all these years and I'm excited to see him come back. I think he's going to be really special this year and lead us to where we need to go."

Hines also has been limited in what he can do through the offseason program. He's continuing to recover from tears to both his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament sustained in a jet ski accident that cost him all of last season with the Buffalo Bills.

The timetable for Hines to return to football activities, according to him, is near the start of training camp. Specifically, he said, "right around Aug. 1 or end of July, depending on how my leg comes around. But goal is to be out there for Week 1."

That also remains the goal for Watson, who sustained a broken glenoid during the Browns' Week 10 win over Jackson and the Ravens. The quarterback started six games for the Browns last season, although he only finished five of them and he was pulled last in the first quarter of a Week 7 win over the Indianapolis Colts after he was pushed to the ground after throwing a pass.

Although this week is the start of the third phase of the voluntary offseason program, it isn't the first time the Browns have been on the field this offseason. The second phase of the program, which covered the previous four weeks, also allowed for on-field workouts, but in a much more contained format.

Watson was also a participant during that phase of the offseason. That's given Stefanski a strong barometer for where the quarterback stands with three more weeks remaining in the offseason program.

“He looked like himself to me," Stefanski said. "I've been able to watch him the last couple of weeks now that we've gotten into Phase 2, so I've seen him throw. He’s making great progress and we will continue to just follow the medical team on this, but he looks like himself.”

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Deshaun Watson on every other day throwing plan during Browns OTAs