Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Justin Fields

Saturday, December 6, 9:14 PM

The Cleveland Browns are planning to keep quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) on their roster next season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. While Watson is considered unlikely to play this season as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles that required multiple surgeries, the team has expressed interest in keeping him on the roster, noting that the 30-year-old's veteran presence is valuable for their pair of rookie quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Another big reason Watson is expected to return is due to the fact that the Browns would have to take on a dead salary of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he was designated as a post-June 1 cap casualty. The record for dead-cap money was set by the Denver Broncos with quarterback Russell Wilson at $85 million, which they split into two years, but releasing Watson would cost the Browns significantly more. With Watson set to return in 2026, he's expected to compete with Sanders and Gabriel for Cleveland's starting gig.

Friday, December 5, 12:07 PM

New York Jets backup quarterback Justin Fields (knee), who reported soreness in his knee on Wednesday, has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the division-rival Miami Dolphins, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. Rookie Brady Cook will serve as the backup to veteran Tyrod Taylor. Fields began the year as the Jets' starting QB, but he has been benched for the last two games in favor of Taylor, who has given the passing attack a small boost. The 26-year-old Fields' disappointing 2025 season will hit a new low point now that he's out with an injury. Even when Fields returns from his knee injury, it seems likely that the Jets will close out the year with Taylor starting under center. In his nine starts in his first year in New York, Fields completed 62.7% of his 204 pass attempts for just 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception while adding 71 rushing attempts for 383 yards and four more TDs.