Deshaun Watson has officially received an 11-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The NFL and NFL Players Association reached a settlement Thursday, one that will allow the quarterback to play for the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 season.

Watson's suspension starts at the end of the preseason and concludes with Cleveland's Week 12 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Watson will be eligible to play his first game for the Browns on Sunday, Dec. 4 in a Week 13 matchup with the Houston Texans.

Watson was on Houston's active roster for the entirety of the 2021 season. The quarterback didn't play single game as he faced more than 20 allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Watson requested a trade prior to last season. The Texans weren't able to find a taker for the quarterback until a grand jury declined to bring charges against the 26-year-old.

Three AFC North games, including one matchup against each of Cleveland's divisional rivals, are among the six regular-season contests that Watson will be allowed to play. The Browns are scheduled to visit the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14 and host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. Cleveland's season finale is a Week 18 road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders are also on the Browns' schedule after Watson's return.

Watson will miss the easiest part of Cleveland's schedule. In their first four games, the Browns won't play a single team that won 10 games last year. Even with Jacoby Brissett under center, the Browns are arguably better than the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons, all of whom Clevleand will face by Oct. 2.

The settlement will also force Watson to miss the toughest part of Cleveland's schedule. In Week 5, the Browns will host the Los Angeles Chargers, which are viewed as a Super Bowl contender. Five of Cleveland's next six opponents were playoff teams a season ago.

The Buffalo Bills and Buccaneers could be heavy favorites to beat the Browns without Watson in Week 11 and Week 12. Buffalo and Tampa Bay are favored to meet in the Super Bowl.

The Browns have a bye in Week 9 in between games against the Bengals and Miami Dolphins.

NFL's appeal of disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson initially decided that Watson should be suspended for six games. The settlement also includes a $5 million fine.

It's possible that Cleveland will try to trade for a quarterback now that Watson's suspension has nearly doubled from Robinson's ruling. Jimmy Garoppolo is the best quarterback on the trade market.

Kevin Stefanski
Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is introduced by general manager Andrew Berry (L) and head coach Kevin Stefanski during a press conference at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 25, 2022 in Berea, Ohio. Nick Cammett/Getty Images