Browns general manager Andrew Berry confirms Deshaun Watson to start throwing 'next month'

INDIANAPOLIS — Deshaun Watson's return to throwing is coming very soon.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry announced on Tuesday at the NFL Combine that Watson was going to begin throwing in March. It would mark a significant step forward for the quarterback in his recovery from season-ending shoulder surgery.

The quarterback has been sidelined since undergoing surgery on a broken glenoid in his throwing shoulder on Nov. 21 in Los Angeles. Watson sustained the injury during the Browns' Week 10 win at the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 12, and went on season-ending injured reserve on Nov. 15.

"Deshaun will begin throwing next month," Berry said Tuesday. "He's worked his tail off in terms of his rehab and recovery. He's in a really good place. We're excited when the spring hits and we can get him back on the field. He's making really good progress and we're really excited to see that continue."

It was the first time Berry or anyone else in the organization had put an definitive timetable on when Watson would start throwing again. All the general manager would say in his season-ending press conference on Jan. 22 that they "anticipate him being on a normal or potentially ahead of scheduled timeline."

The Browns have gone from anticipating to knowing what that timeline will be for Watson to begin throwing. The next step in that, however, is figuring out what the steps will be for him as they work toward the start of the offseason workouts in a couple of months.

The Browns are slated to start phase one of the voluntary offseason program on April 15. However, there's no actual on-field work in phase two and three, the latter which includes OTAs and minicamp, in May.

"He's on track," Berry said. "He'll start throwing next month. I'm not going to get too far out in front of my skis, but we're really please and think that he's going to be just fine."

The broken bone was one of two injuries Watson suffered on the shoulder this past season. He also dealt with a rotator cuff sprain in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans that forced him to miss three of the next four games and the final three-plus quarters of the Week 7 win at the Indianapolis Colts.

That injury occurred when Watson took off on a run to the Titans 3 to set up a Browns touchdown in the third quarter. That ability to use his legs as a weapon is a significant part of what separates Watson from a number of quarterbacks,

Berry indicated, when asked Tuesday if the injuries will lead them to try and reel that in, that he was opposed to taking that aspect of Watson's game away. He has averaged 26.4 yards per game rushing on just over five attempts per game in his Browns career.

Even after the broken bone, Watson posted the best single half in his abbreviated Browns career. He went 14 of 14 in the second half with 134 yards and a touchdown, helping to lead Cleveland back from multiple two-touchdown deficits to win 33-31.

Watson completed 61.4% of his passes over the six games he played this past season, throwing for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns, four interceptions and an 84.3 passer rating. He's completed 59.8% of his passes in 12 career games with the Browns for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions and an 81.7 rating.

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: Andrew Berry confirms Deshaun Watson to start throwing in March