Tag: Deshaun Watson

As the workweek comes to a close, there’s an air of anticipation in Cleveland as Deshaun Watson appears poised to take the field without any restrictions for the first time in at least a month. The Cleveland Browns quarterback has not been designated on the Friday injury report leading up to their Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, signaling his expected return to the starting lineup.

This lack of designation comes as a surprise to many, considering that Watson’s status has been a topic of discussion since Week 4. A shoulder injury suffered in the Browns’ Week 3 victory over the Tennessee Titans sidelined him for Week 4 and Week 6. He made a brief return in Week 7 but had to exit the game in the first quarter of the Browns’ win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Watson then sat out Week 8’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. During his absence, both rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson and veteran PJ Walker took turns starting at quarterback, with Walker assuming the bulk of the signal-calling responsibilities.

Cleveland’s loss in Week 8 highlighted a consensus among observers that the Browns needed a more reliable option under center than Walker if they aimed to contend for the AFC North title. Despite this, the Browns refrained from making a move at the quarterback position at the trade deadline, opting to send Donovan Peoples-Jones to Detroit instead.

In the lead-up to Sunday’s game, Watson participated in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday and addressed reporters following the latter session. His comments regarding his health remained somewhat vague, echoing the sentiment that his injured rotator cuff was improving gradually. He expressed optimism about his condition, saying, “I mean, it’s getting better each and every day. The arrow’s going up. The process has been very, very good, and we’re just steady, just going day-to-day and just making sure that we’re doing everything we can to build that strength and everything.”

Watson’s shoulder issue has prompted intense scrutiny from local media, who closely monitor nuances such as the velocity of his practice throws, particularly after his passes appeared lacking in zip during his brief appearance against the Colts. Nevertheless, any conclusive data on Watson’s throwing strength remains undisclosed, leaving questions unanswered.

Watson did acknowledge that resting the previous week might have improved his chances of returning to action in Week 9, noting, “I guess it did. The biggest thing was they didn’t want to put me in the spot where I re-injured the shoulder. So there’s a fine line that you got to play with, and you just got to make sure you’re doing all the stuff that you need before you can go back out there.”

Throughout this process, the Browns have been tight-lipped, leaving media outlets to rely on limited practice observations and the Friday injury report for insights into Watson’s condition. While it was expected that Watson would be listed as questionable, the absence of any designation suggests that he is in the best possible shape since sustaining the initial injury.

With Deshaun Watson’s official return expected on Sunday, all eyes will be on how he performs, providing a clear indication of his true level of fitness.

PJ Walker has regained his starting position for the Cleveland Browns. Coach Kevin Stefanski made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Walker will be the starting quarterback in Sunday’s game in Seattle, replacing Deshaun Watson. Watson, who did not practice on Wednesday due to an injury suffered in the previous week’s game against Indianapolis, will be focusing on his rehabilitation.

The decision to start Walker comes as no surprise. Watson had recently returned to the lineup after missing two games due to a bruised rotator cuff, but his return was short-lived as he was injured again in the same game. Prior to leaving the game, Watson’s performance was lackluster, displaying no velocity on his passes and lacking confidence. He completed only 1 of 5 passes for five yards and threw an interception (and was fortunate not to have another interception). Instead of risking Watson’s health further, the Browns have opted to give him time to rest and recover.

Stefanski explained, “I just feel like with what happened in the game, landing on his shoulder, there’s residual swelling that’s affecting his throwing. I think it’s the best thing for him to rest this week and focus on the rehab. As I’ve told you guys, I will always make what I think are the best decisions for our football team, for Deshaun, and I feel like this is the best decision for this week.”

Watson initially injured his shoulder in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans. An MRI on his shoulder showed no additional damage, but he is dealing with a strain in his subscapularis muscle, which has caused pain and weakness in his rotator cuff. The recommended treatment for Watson is rest.

In the meantime, PJ Walker will step in as the starting quarterback. The Browns added him to the 53-man roster on Wednesday after using his three practice squad elevation allowances. Walker, a veteran, previously started in the Browns’ Week 6 victory over San Francisco and took over in the win against the Colts. This season, Walker has thrown three interceptions with no touchdowns on 33-of-66 passing, accumulating 370 total passing yards. While the Browns’ offense may lack some upside with Walker under center, he is a reliable veteran who can effectively execute Stefanski’s offensive scheme.

During the Browns’ Week 7 victory over the Colts, Deshaun Watson exited the game following a hit by Indianapolis defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. Although he passed a concussion test, Watson did not return to the game, as the Browns opted to exercise caution, according to CBS Sports sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Watson is their starting quarterback for the upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks, provided he is fit to play. Stefanski emphasized that player protection is always his priority, saying, “He’s our starter moving forward. He’s our starter in Seattle. It’s always going to be my decision to protect our players.”

On Monday, when asked about the possibility of placing Watson on injured reserve, Stefanski responded by stating that the quarterback’s condition is day-to-day. The Browns are awaiting the results of an MRI.

Although Watson cleared concussion protocol, he exhibited lingering effects from the hit. He appeared to be in discomfort, holding his right shoulder and having difficulty raising his right arm. He did not attempt any passes on the sideline.

The injury occurred during the first quarter, with Watson already questionable due to a shoulder injury. He left the game with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, with the Browns trailing the Colts 14-7. Up to that point, Cleveland’s starting quarterback had completed only one of five passes for five yards, with an interception.

PJ Walker, who filled in for the injured Watson during last week’s win over the 49ers, took Watson’s place in the starting lineup. Despite not completing his lone pass attempt, Walker led the Browns on back-to-back scoring drives upon entering the game. The first drive resulted in a short touchdown run by Kareem Hunt, set up by Myles Garrett’s strip-sack of Gardner Minshew. The Browns’ subsequent drive concluded with a field goal after a blocked field goal attempt by the Browns’ special teams.

Walker finished the game with 178 yards on 15 of 32 passing. Despite his modest statistics, the Browns emerged victorious over the Colts with a close score of 39-38, improving their season record to 4-2.

Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, left the Week 7 game against the Indianapolis Colts due to an injury after being hit by Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. Although Watson cleared a concussion test, he did not return to the game, as the Browns opted to be cautious with his health.

According to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, Deshaun Watson will start in the upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks, affirming his status as the team’s starting quarterback moving forward. Stefanski emphasized that it is always his decision to prioritize the well-being of his players.

Watson’s injury appeared to have lingering effects after the hit, with signs of discomfort and difficulty using his right arm. He did not make any pass attempts on the sideline.

During the game, Watson was questionable due to a shoulder injury, and he exited the contest with a little over three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Up to that point, he had completed only 1 of 5 passes for five yards and had thrown an interception.

Backup quarterback PJ Walker, who had started the previous week’s game in place of the injured Watson, took over as the starter and led the Browns to consecutive scoring drives, contributing to a 39-38 victory over the Colts. Despite limited passing attempts, the Browns improved their season record to 4-2 with this win.