BEREA — Deshaun Watson's next step as the Browns quarterback returns from shoulder surgery won't necessarily occur in the public's eye. Even his head coach isn't, technically, allowed to see what he's doing.

That doesn't mean Browns coach Kevin Stefanski doesn't feel good about what Watson will be doing over the next six weeks until the team opens training camp in late July.

"Well, it's a dead period, as you know, so we can't direct any of it," Stefanski said at the conclusion of the Browns' minicamp Thursday. "So, ask Deshaun. But, yeah, he's got a good plan. Like all of our guys, we talked about it today, establishing a routine, making sure that they're staying healthy, that they're getting their work done, that they're still in their free time. If they want to do some summer reading, they can crack open that playbook if they want to, of course. But, yeah, he's got a good plan of attack and how he's going to get his body ready."

If Thursday was Stefanski's last viewing of Watson throwing until they reconvene next month, the coach has to be a happy one with what he's seen. It's by no means a finished product — in fact, nowhere close to it — but it was progress, which was all he could ask for considering the circumstances.

Watson had surgery to repair a broken glenoid in his throwing shoulder, which ended his 2023 season, on Nov. 21. He didn't start his throwing program until March 19, in Los Angeles, while continuing it once he returned to Ohio for the Browns' voluntary offseason program.

The two days Watson threw during minicamp were steps forward in the process, with the addition of 7-on-7 drills. Previous to that, his throwing program during the latter stages of the voluntary program — specifically OTAs — merely involved individual work with receivers.

All of that work was why Stefanski didn't react as if he'd seen a revelation in minicamp.

"I've gotten to see him throw throughout the course of this rehab, and I don't know when it was, but a while back, he looked very normal to me, so that looked normal to me," Stefanski said.

If there was any part of Thursday's performance by Watson that may not have looked normal, at least to those who haven't been able to see the quarterback throw since early May, it came during the 7-on-7 period. Watson rolled to his left, set his feet and fired a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Elijah Moore at the goal line.

The pass may have actually been a tad long, because it bounced off Moore's fingertips. Still, in the three open practices the media has been able to observe Watson throw, it was among the longest passes he's delivered.

"We didn't connect, though," Stefanski said jokingly. "It was an incomplete pass. No, I know what you're saying. I would say this, I've been able to see him throw. Now, that's the first time this week in 7-on-7 settings. But what we've been able to put him through as part of his rehab, I've seen him let it go, so to speak. So that was not surprising to see him do that."

The question now is what the Browns see from Watson when they get into training camp next month. There no indication he'll immediately start in an "all-systems-go" mode, especially with the patience already having been shown in the recovery.

That prudent process has produced pleasing production from Watson when he has thrown, at least as far as Stefanski has been concerned.

"I don't look at it that way necessarily," Stefanski said. "He's been here every day. He's been getting better. I get to see him really through the course of his entire rehab. Go through the throwing sessions off to the side, go through the throwing sessions to the players, go through the throwing sessions now at 7-on-7.

"So, I've seen this improvement from him, both in terms of how he's feeling and also just those hitting those mile markers of when he's allowed to do what he's doing. He's right where he needs to be, and I'm pleased with how hard he's worked."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Deshaun Watson looks normal to Kevin Stefanski as Browns end minicamp