Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looks better and feels better, progressing to the extent that his return from a shoulder injury could be imminent.

Watson was throwing lasers in Thursday’s practice, an apparent ramp-up in activity he said was merely “part of the protocol … part of the process” and not necessarily a signal he’s ready to go Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

“We all gotta be on the same page. I told the guys that I was ready Indianapolis week. That was my decision,” he said. “And look, I wasn’t ready. I tried to jump the gun a little bit and it didn’t go our way.”

Watson was replaced in the Oct. 12 game against the Colts by P.J. Walker, who has started three games and gone 2-1. That includes last week’s loss at Seattle, when an interception on third-and-short late in the game gave the Seahawks possession to drive for a game-winning score and dropped the Browns to 4-3.

Watson was first injured Sept. 24 and has a strained rotator cuff.

Resting Watson on Sunday, when the Browns’ defense is likely to line up against Cardinals rookie Clayton Tune in his first career start, would set Cleveland up to bring him back healthier for AFC North games that follow — at Baltimore on Nov. 12 and against the Steelers the week after.

“As you can imagine, I always just kind of keep it day-to-day,” coach Kevin Stefanski said of Watson’s progress in practice. “He’ll be out there, and we’ll see how he does.”

Walker has one touchdown, five interceptions and a 49.5 completion percentage. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the starter in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens on Oct. 1 in Cleveland, was intercepted three times and sacked four times in that game.

–Field Level Media