UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — It was a big day in University Heights, not just because of the opening of Lefty's Cheesesteak on South Taylor Road, but also because of the presence of the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.
Deshaun Watson is an investor in the new restaurant, and was more than happy to talk to reporters about his love of the food and friendship with the owners. However, most were curious about his recovery from shoulder surgery, which remains the team's No. 1 question mark as it looks to remain among the contenders in the NFL.
"It's very, very good," Watson said of his ongoing rehab. "The biggest thing right now, through this process, is load management and just continu[ing] to find ways to get better and just stay on that course."
As for a specific timeline, Watson declared, "We'll be ready by Week 1," provided he and the doctors keep following the treatment plan.
It's safe to say Watson's tenure in Cleveland has been a rocky one. Once a Pro Bowler in Houston, he sat out the entire 2021 season following a trade request and accusations of sexual misconduct by roughly two dozen women. While he has not been criminally charged and all but two of the civil cases have been settled out of court, the Browns endured great scrutiny when they acquired him from the Texans for three first-round draft picks, and the league eventually suspended him for the first 11 games of 2022.
When Watson returned at the end of that year, the $230 million QB's play was seen as inconsistent, a trend that somewhat continued into 2023. Still, the Browns went 5-1 in games he started, including a thrilling 33-31 comeback win in Baltimore that saw him complete 14 consecutive throws in the second half.
But it was later revealed that in that matchup, Watson broke a bone in his throwing shoulder, forcing him out for the remainder of the year. Despite the challenges, the 28-year-old is confident he can return to his elite form, perhaps at an even greater level.
"I'll be better than I was before," he said. "I've put my whole life into this, and I want to make sure I come back even better than before."
While injured, Watson had to watch as veteran Joe Flacco led Cleveland to the playoffs after essentially being signed off the street. Flacco is now in Indianapolis, with the Browns opting to sign former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston to be their backup, a move Watson praised.
"Jameis is a great guy, I mean a great person," Watson told reporters of his new teammate. "I just need that energy and want that energy around me, so once we figured out AB (Andrew Berry) signed him, I got his number and I wanted to just ask him questions, and he came out to LA and visited me and we had a great time."
Head coach Kevin Stefanski was among those at Thursday's grand opening, and Watson confirmed he has also spoken with new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. The goal remains the same for all within the organization: winning the Super Bowl.
"There's going to be special things," Watson said. "We're putting together a great contender, and we're just going to go to work and just take it one week at a time and see what happens."
As for Lefty's, Watson recommends the "Southpaw," which features grilled onions, white American cheese, cheese sauce, and crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos. In his opinion, though, "Everything on the menu is amazing."