Browns' Watson, Cooper haven't 'missed a beat' despite WR's holdout

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson expects his on-field chemistry with Amari Cooper to remain the same despite the wide receiver's absence from mandatory minicamp amid a contract dispute with the team.

Cooper didn't attend Cleveland's organized team activities, as the 30-year-old is looking for a new deal ahead of the final year of his current contract. Watson - who hosted a passing camp in Florida last week - suggested Wednesday that he may have worked out with Cooper during the offseason.

"The connection's been awesome," Watson said Wednesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. "Me and Amari have been, even with all of the other guys, it's not like he missed a beat. Amari's always been there. We know what he can do. He's been showing that and he's shown that over the offseason and yeah, the brotherhood, the love, the communication, none of that stuff has missed a beat at all."

Cooper's contract doesn't include any guaranteed money in 2024, but his 2024 base salary of $20 million will become fully guaranteed once the regular season starts. He's presumably looking for an extension and a pay bump after setting a career high with 1,250 receiving yards last year. Cooper - whom Cleveland acquired in a 2022 offseason trade - also caught 72 passes for five touchdowns in 2023.

It's unclear if he will be with the team to kick off training camp next week.

"Amari's going to be good," Watson said. "As far as the other stuff, that's their business. I can't get into all that. He knows that we love him and we want him back for sure."

Cooper topped 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons. The veteran wideout has played 12 games with Watson under center, catching 51 passes for 870 yards and four touchdowns in those contests.