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Browns general manager Andrew Berry discussed a variety of topics during a press conference Wednesday, including the upcoming return of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson is nearing the end of his 11-game suspension and has been at the team’s facility for meetings and conditioning work in recent weeks. Berry said “it was great to have him back in the building” and confirmed he is scheduled to face the Texans when he is first eligible in Week 13.
Berry doesn’t want expectations of Watson’s return to be too high. Berry said it was “not really our mindset” to expect Watson to carry the team once he returns to action for the first time since the 2020 season.
“We spent a lot of time with Deshaun at camp during the spring and racked up a lot of good reps during that time,” Berry said of Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “That being said, I don’t think our approach doesn’t really do justice to every quarterback, but you know, certainly by the time Deshaun has had time to expect him to shoulder everything. That’s not necessarily how the team is built or put together. I don’t know if that would be a fair request for a quarterback. In a couple of weeks we’ll be in that world where we’re getting him ready to play and we’re going to deal with that appropriately.”
Given what the Browns gave up for Watson, he and the team will have to contend with high expectations regardless of how long it’s been since he’s been on the field. Until then, they’re hoping last Monday’s win over the Bengals won’t be the last they celebrate with Jacoby Brissett on offense.