How Deshaun Watson will help Shedeur Sanders on the sideline vs. the Raiders in his first road trip of the se

LAS VEGAS — Deshaun Watson will make his first road trip of the season and be on the sideline helping Shedeur Sanders in his NFL starting debut here against the Raiders, a league source tells cleveland.com.

Watson, recovering from his re-ruptured Achilles repair, isn’t traveling just to help Sanders, but is finally healthy enough to be on the sideline for a game.

He’s currently on reserve/physically unable to perform, and the Browns can open his 21-day practice window at any time. Watson has posted workout videos of himself on his social media accounts, dropping back with his usual agility and throwing the ball.

He’s said he expects to come back stronger than ever after surgery to repair the fractured shoulder in 2023, and the two Achilles surgeries. There’s some thought in the organization to waiting until the offseason program in April to let Watson start practicing, but he’s coming along well enough that they might open the window soon.

When they do, they have 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains on PUP for the remainder of the season.

In addition to progressing well in his rehab, Watson has been a tremendous help to Sanders and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel this season in the meeting rooms.

This week, when Sanders took his first reps with the starting offense, Watson helped him assimilate the game plan and feel comfortable with what he’ll run on Sunday. Watson has also helped Gabriel on the sideline during home games, but this his first trip with the team since he traveled to Carolina for the joint practice with the Panthers. But that was in large part so he could visit with his surgeon.

Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave noted last month how much of a help Watson had been to Gabriel during games.

“I try to take myself out of the equation – I don’t need to be there hovering all over them … We miss him on the road,” he said. “It’s great to have his presence on the sideline for our young group.”

He revealed what Watson has been doing behind the scenes in his rehab.

“I see him in the weight room all the time doing box jumps and doing all the exercises, things that they put them through before his Achilles,” Musgrave said. “And then he’s out throwing some passes. I know at times when we’re meeting or when we’re doing other stuff during the afternoon, he seems like he’s working like crazy.”

Is it intriguing to wonder what he could possibly have left after surgeries to repair his fractured shoulder and the Achilles twice? The most recent surgery was Jan. 10 to re-do the Achilles from last season’s lost to the Bengals on Oct. 20 at Huntington Bank Field.

“Yeah, he’s definitely been through a lot (with the surgeries),” Musgrave said. “I know he wants to play a lot of football again. He feels like he’s got a lot of tread left on his tires.”

Acquired in a trade with the Texans in 2022 for a net of five draft picks — including three first-rounders — Watson has gone 9-10 with the Browns after signing a blockbuster five-year extension worth $230 million guaranteed. It was the first fully guaranteed deal in the history of the NFL, and made waves with other club owners.

In March, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam described the Watson deal as “a big swing and a miss” but he’s remained on good terms with the three-time Pro Bowler, even attending his wedding in July to Jilly Anais.

The Browns fully expect Watson to be on the team in 2026, the final year of his contract.

In the meantime, the Browns have appreciated his help with their young QBs, and expect him to be valuable to Sanders in his debut.

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