OCTOBER 29: Watson is still expected to avoid an IR stint, per Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic. A source tells Schefter that Watson is unlikely to be sidelined for more than two weeks, while Russini hears that Watson is “day-to-day.”
OCTOBER 25: The Browns will push back Watson’s second comeback attempt, with Kevin Stefanski ruling him out for Sunday’s Seahawks matchup. Walker, whom the Browns signed to their active roster today, will make another start. Stefanski confirmed (via NFL.com’s Andrew Siciliano) Watson has residual swelling after leaving Week 7 early but reiterated the latest MRI showed no additional structural damage.
Also, in addition to the practice squad acquisition of Jordan Wilkins yesterday, Cleveland enlisted further reinforcements at running back today, signing Nate McCrary to the practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. With Chubb on IR and Ford doubtful for Sunday, McCrary will compete with Wilkins for a potential opportunity to be elevated and play behind Hunt and Strong in Seattle this weekend.
OCTOBER 24: Deshaun Watson‘s return to action did not last long. The high-priced quarterback left the Browns’ Week 7 game after 12 snaps. While Watson is cleared to play, he continues to experience shoulder pain.
A Tuesday MRI did not reveal any additional injuries coming out of Cleveland’s high-scoring win in Indianapolis, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Watson confirmed he is dealing with a strained rotator cuff last week, and cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot adds the seventh-year QB battling is an injury in the subscapularis muscle, the largest in the rotator cuff.
Watson continues to deal with movement limitations, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds this particular injury can shelve pitchers for between four and six weeks. Doctors have informed Watson this is typically a four- to six-week injury. Watson sustained the injury against the Titans in Week 3 and missed Week 4 after a Saturday MRI revealed the extent of the malady. After Cleveland’s bye week, Watson rested again. Despite returning to practice last week, Watson remains far from 100%.
Sunday’s Seahawks matchup will mark five weeks from the initial injury, though it is unclear how much Watson set his recovery back by returning to face the Colts. The Browns have not decided on a course of action with their $230MM quarterback.
Watson, of course, enjoys unrivaled security due to his fully guaranteed contract. Rushing back would make little sense through that lens. A collision with Colts defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo led Watson out of the Browns’ Week 7 matchup, with Cabot adding the QB’s velocity was down due to this injury affecting his shoulder rotation. The 2022 trade acquisition entering concussion protocol came about because of the independent neurologist; he was cleared of a head injury soon after. But this shoulder problem persists.
If Watson cannot go, the Browns would again turn to P.J. Walker, whom they bumped ahead of Week 1 backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson earlier this month. It is fairly clear this issue will linger for the foreseeable future, which could lead to more Watson absences for the 4-2 team. For Walker to play in Week 8, the Browns must sign him to the 53-man roster. The ex-Panthers backup has made the rare transition from gameday elevation to to QB1, but the team has used up his three allotted elevations this season.
Additionally, the Browns are expected to be without running back Jerome Ford for a bit. The initial Nick Chubb replacement suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday, per Schefter, who classifies this as a “low grade” sprain that is likely to sideline the second-year back a week or two. The Browns signed Kareem Hunt in the wake of Chubb’s knee injury, and they acquired Pierre Strong from the Patriots before the season. Hunt logged 10 carries (for 31 yards) last week; Strong totaled eight (for 25).
Josh Dobson playing okay in Arizona. Browns regret trading him ?
Is there anything the Browns don’t regret? What a miserable franchise. Remember the ‘Factory of Sadness’ t-shirts a few years back?
Will you be starring in the next “Grumpy Old Men” movie arty? You seem to finding everything miserable lately. Try laughing more. An excess of negativity isn’t going to benefit either you or the forum.
Miserable teams are just that. Why call them more polite names? But yeah I’d star in the movie, great paycheck!
You would be perfect as the Clint Eastwood character if they ever did a remake of Heartbreak Ridge…lol
Ehh I don’t think that Dobbs gives them much more than what they have. Dobbs absolutely needs a strong running game to be effective, and Cleveland’s run game has been lackluster this year. I don’t think that Dobbs would be as effective without the run game going, as we’ve seen in Arizona when the rushing attack falters.
At the end of the day, the Browns are 4-2 and the Cardinals are a good bit behind that. Even though that’s much more of a big picture stat, I’m sure it impacts the degree of any regret.
The Browns are 2nd in the league in rushing. That’s not lackluster. They’re averaging 148 yards per game
Latest news on Deshaun Watson….this just in, he’s still a POS…
I get the POS part, but the dude has a torn rotator cuff. The Browns are 4-2 because of their defense. Why not let the shoulder rest and get back healthy?
I’m on the West Coast so I don’t hear much Browns chatter, so Cleveland fans, what’s the real story? Just curious.
Rotfl yes he is
Theoretical exercise:
What is Watson’s trade value?
With the contract? Independent of the contract?
Which teams might have interest? How much interest would the Browns have in moving on, and getting out of the contract? Is there a point where it becomes a real thought – probably eating salary?
Yes, I realize this isn’t happening – hence calling it out as a thought exercise. But I wonder if the Browns brass have doubts. They took all the negative PR as enablers for a terrible return. So far, it’s pretty laughable.
Hence why most Texans fans were shocked that they got as much as they did and happy he was someone else’s problem now.
He tried to force his way out of Houston bc he was being a baby about not getting final say in coaching decisions, if I remember correctly.
Despite his legal troubles, and his poor behavior immediately after signing his contract – there was STILL bidding for his services. The only reason he chose Cleveland as his destination was the fully guaranteed contract.
It was less about Houston not wanting him and more about him not wantHouston.
All of the other teams are sighing with relief because DW set the Browns back.
Im curious, that if today the Browns somehow made him available – what is the interest level and trade compensation?
That exactly why he got traded. You remembered correctly.
No chance Cleveland would get near what they gave up.
For all that Watson has done and deserves blame for, I do have to say that I understood his frustration organizationally after they hired David Culley out of nowhere-and then fired him after he did a much better job than he was supposed to. After all of the other miscues, that was an idiotic sequence of events from every step of the process. And of course, afterward, they hired Lovie Smith for a year, who is a much reduced shadow of his Bears self. Obviously Houston had a lot of issues, though they seem to have finally gotten back on track.
I thought at the time it was a really unattractive job. The only real value was going to be to a coach like Culley – just grabbing a little HC experience. No established coach should have taken the job. It was quite clear it was a one a done deal.
Culley did a GREAT job there with what he had. It was ridiculous he was fired, but I think that was the plan all along.
Watson knows nothing about picking HCs or GMs. It was right to solicit his input, but also right to not feel tied to what he wanted. I don’t even agree with guys like Rodgers getting final say. (Rodgers would be a terrible GM with his former recommendations)
Teams actually hire consultants to help with these hires, and it’s true that even then this miss rate is really high. And it can still really just come down to who knows who.
And, he was under a fresh new contract and the ink had barely dried. The Diva vibe immediately came out after that. He thought he was king s**t.
Cleveland enabled ALL of his behavior.
I cant say Im not enjoying the results.
I agree, especially about Culley. Of course, at the time, Watson was thought of as a good team player and stand up guy who was carrying the team. His opinion was more highly regarded then. That probably influenced a lot of our attitudes. That obviously changed quickly.
He should get a massage for that bummed shoulder.
Just as long as it’s a lower body massage. Those seem to be the most effective for him.
Might turn it into another $230 million guaranteed.
66 massage therapists claim they are all booked up.
As long as the referees continue to hand Cleveland close games, they should be fine. The last two have had Chiefs levels of crooked.
Indy got done dirty.
These Browns are the joke of the NFL, and they always have been. The franchise that was something 60 years ago, is now in Baltimore.
They were on the verge of building something until literally the day they announced the move. That something went to Baltimore and became World Champions. The true fans of Cleveland deserve much better than what they’ve been given with the Browns 2.0 and this POS being the face of the franchise.
Sometimes a piece of crap floats, sometimes is sinks, other times it’s initials are DW.
The massage jokes are played out. Just stop.
I’m kidding of course. DW will be mocked for the rest of his life… As he should be.
If players were introduced with theme music, his would be “Take The Money and Run” … but Steve Miller would never allow it
That franchise is one of the most poorly run in all of sports. Poor GM choices, coaching decisions, draft choices, trades. All of it just awful.
True, just a vicious cycle of them lining up their new GM, Coach, QB…rinse, wash, repeat…