Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, will miss his third straight game on Sunday due to a shoulder issue.
Watson started the Cleveland Browns road game on Sunday, but he was out after five pass attempts. When the Browns play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, backup quarterback P.J. Walker will once more receive the start.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that the Browns have no intention of placing Watson on injured reserve. A player placed on injured reserve (IR) must miss a minimum of four games; Russini also mentioned that Watson’s recuperation has shown “slight improvements”:
“Day-to-day. That’s the assessment that league sources continue to share in regard to Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson’s injured throwing shoulder. Multiple people have emphasized that Watson wants to be on the field, although the franchise quarterback admitted he doesn’t know how long the injury is going to linger.
Team sources share there is no plan at this point to place Watson on IR, and that the team wanted him to use this past week as “time to heal.” The goal is to get Watson to drive the ball with ease, comfort and little to no effort. Though Watson dealt with some swelling this past week, I was told he made slight improvements.”
Update: The #Browns aren't planning to place QB Deshaun Watson on injured reserve, sources told @DMRussini
Watson only threw 5 passes last week against the #Colts, completing one while throwing an interception.
Watson said about the Colts game: "I thought I was ready, I… https://t.co/X9GO1RytOt pic.twitter.com/5P4QnjWyNo
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 28, 2023
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson on if he rushed back from injury vs the #Colts: "I don’t know… I thought I was ready, I wasn't ready."
Watson also responded to questions about people saying he doesn't want to play: "Why wouldn’t I want to play? I just worked my a– off for two years… https://t.co/lsjt7Hb8C7 pic.twitter.com/sNYjQfv7Z0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 26, 2023
Watson has started for the Browns three out of four times, but his output has been erratic at best. With just 683 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions against his name, the former first-round choice has a 61.7 completion %. We had reported earlier this month how Watson was going to miss games.
Walker has won both of the games in Watson’s absence even though he has thrown three interceptions versus zero touchdowns. Luckily for the quarterbacks in Cleveland, Jim Schwartz, the team’s new defensive coordinator, has the Browns playing stingy defense and getting by.
The Browns will play the one-win Arizona Cardinals at home after traveling to the Seahawks on Sunday. In addition, Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL from the previous season, might make his season debut in that game.
