Deshaun Watson comments on his progress since last season

Deshaun Watson believes he is poised for more success as he enters his second season with the Cleveland Browns. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback made his return to the field last season after sitting out all of 2021, as well as missing the first 11 games of 2022 due to a suspension stemming from multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

Watson appeared in the final six games of the year, but clearly had some rust to shake off. He led the Browns to just a 3-3 record in those games while completing a career-low 58.2% of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns to five interceptions.

But after a year of working with both head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, Watson is confident he has a better understanding of what to expect.

“I’m pretty far ahead of where I was last year,” Watson said in a recent press conference. “Last year was, as far as football and being on the field, just learning a new system. Trying to adapt to different teammates, different players, how guys run routes, how Kevin calls the plays. It’s just being able to process the game at the speed I know. Being a year in and being able to speak to Kevin and AVP about what we want to do and being confident about it, it allows me to play a little bit faster when I’m on the field.”

During Watson’s last full season in 2020, he threw for a league-leading 4,823 yards along with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing a career-high 70.2% of his passes. That is the kind of play that got the Browns to invest in him with a four-year, $156 million contract.

Cleveland knew that Watson likely wouldn’t be available for the full season when they signed him to that contract. However, now after serving his suspension, the Browns will hope the chance they took pays off as they eye a return to the postseason.

Browns OC Alex Van Pelt says Deshaun Watson has ‘improved tenfold’

Members of the Browns coaching staff as well as players have also expressed belief in Watson ahead of 2023. That includes Van Pelt, who had some high praise last week for what he’s seen from the QB so far in OTAs.

“It’s just his confidence in the system itself,” he said. “Understanding of what we’re asking of him and how to communicate at the line of scrimmage. Everything from protections to calling plays in the huddle.”

“He’s improved tenfold since this time last year. I mean you see it all start to come together. (He’s) playing with a little swagger out there and having some fun.”

Watson will get a chance to show how much he has improved when Cleveland opens the regular season on Sept. 3 against the Bengals.