Stefanski: Watson remains ‘the leader’ of Browns

Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff WriterOct 23, 2023, 01:22 PM ET
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INDIANAPOLIS — Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Deshaun Watson remains “the leader” of the team even after the quarterback was removed from Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I’m always going to be protective of my players, especially at the quarterback position,” Stefanski said. “Just felt like the right thing in that moment was to hold him out of that game.”

Watson exited in the first quarter after taking a hit from Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. Watson cleared concussion protocol, but Stefanski opted to go with backup PJ Walker the rest of the game. For the second straight week, Walker led the Browns on a game-winning drive, as Cleveland (4-2) came back to defeat the Colts 39-38.

Watson had completed only 1 of 5 passes for 5 yards with an interception when he left.

He had missed Cleveland’s previous two games with a rotator cuff strain in his right, throwing shoulder. After the game Sunday, Watson said he wasn’t sure if he reinjured the shoulder. Stefanski said Monday the Browns were still “gathering information” on it.

Stefanski would not say whether the Browns are considering putting Watson on injured reserve, which would open up a roster spot but force Watson to miss at least the next four games.

“He’s getting better,” Stefanski said, “he’s a competitive kid, he’s working hard.”

Walker completed 15 of 32 passes for 178 yards and an interception. He led the Browns on the 12-play, 80-yard drive, which was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Kareem Hunt with 15 seconds remaining.

“They felt like the decision was best to let PJ go in and finish the game,” Watson said afterward. “PJ did a great job.”

Stefanski said Sunday that Watson is “our starter moving forward,” including in next weekend’s game in Seattle if “he’s ready to roll.”

The Browns sent three first-round picks to the Houston Texans in 2022 to get Watson, then signed him to a new five-year contract worth $230 million fully guaranteed.

Watson, however, has played in only nine full games for the Browns. He served an 11-game suspension last year for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

Until Thursday of last week, Watson had not had a full practice since Sept. 22. Watson had said he had trouble driving the ball downfield due to the shoulder injury. But Stefanski said after Friday’s practice that Watson looked like himself again.

After Watson left Sunday’s game, the Browns didn’t give him an injury designation and announced only that he had cleared the concussion protocol.

Stefanski also said Watson would have gone back into the game had Walker been injured; the Browns didn’t have another quarterback dressed.

“Whenever I step on the field, I don’t want to have any pain holding me back and be handicapped,” Watson said. “We had a great week of preparation and we felt that it was the best opportunity for me to come back this week. I just wasn’t able to finish the game.”

The Browns are last in the NFL in QBR (33.9) and passer rating (61.0) this season.