Deshaun Watson entered the 2026 Cleveland Browns training camp in a battle for the starting quarterback spot with Shedeur Sanders. After leading a fifth comeback victory for the 5-2 first-place Browns, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith thinks Watson is the 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

The Browns quarterback missed the entire 2025 season with an Achilles injury. In 2023 and 2024, he was among the NFL's worst quarterbacks statistically despite his five-year, $230 million contract.

"Deshaun Watson right now is the Comeback Player of the Year. Right now, Comeback Player," Smith, who's gotten in trouble for some recent takes, said on Tuesday's episode of 'First Take.'

Fellow panelist Chris Canty was surprised.

"That's uncomfortable to even say," Canty said. "It's uncomfortable."

Watson was suspended 11 games in 2022 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He was accused of sexual assault and other harassment charges during 2020 and 2021 while a member of the Houston Texans.

25 separate women filed lawsuits against him, including two criminal complaints. All were eventually dropped.

"Very uncomfortable to say it, but it's true. It's true," Smith said back to Canty. "Five wins, first place in the division. All five wins were come-from-behind victories in the fourth quarter, led by him.

"Considering where he was, how bad he looked on the football field, to what he has looked. Him, as far as I'm concerned, [and Todd Monken] is one of the top Coach of the Year candidates."

All five of Cleveland's wins have come by four points or fewer. Watson ranks 21st in the NFL in EPA/play and 27th in QBR. He's taken the most sacks in the league and ranks 19th amongst qualified quarterbacks in success rate.

The Browns have played a cumulative strength of schedule of .447 and boast a -13 strength of schedule. Cleveland's defense, led by one of the NFL's best secondaries, ranks among the top 10 in most advanced defensive metrics.

Still, despite scoring the 28th most points per game in the NFL, the Browns are 5-2 and in first place in an AFC North division with four teams above .500. This is the latest Cleveland has led its division since 2014, when Johnny Manziel was getting ready to suit up for his first NFL snaps after an injury to starter Brian Hoyer.

Who else is a candidate for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year honor?

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL last year, yet has his team 5-1 and in first place. Kyler Murray is 6-0 with the Minnesota Vikings. New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers alsohas recovered from a torn ACL to become a First-team All-Pro candidate.