While 2024 was a down year for Watson prior to his injury, the team consistently pointed to an offense as a whole that needed to improve.

Since offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey took over play-calling, which was the same week Winston took over for an injured Watson as starter, the team is averaging more yards, more passing yards and more points per game.

In addition, the Browns have also protected themselves when it comes to Watson.

Sources say Cleveland, as some teams do for big-money deals across the league, has insured Watson’s contract, which allows it to get salary cap credit (relief) for the time he’s missed over the past two years because of injury. Some teams insure the guaranteed amounts of veteran contracts and in the future; the Browns will also likely have an insurance policy to protect their downside in case of injury.

While Watson has been out, it has continued to be a struggle. Cleveland has won just twice over its last eight games, while Winston has thrown for plenty of yards (497 against the Broncos, for instance), he also had nine interceptions in his last four games as a starter before he was benched.

Second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who had shown promise in the preseason and in limited regular-season starts, started in Week 15 and will start against the Dolphins on Sunday.