Deshaun Watson Injury Update: Latest News Suggests Browns Quarterback Could Be Out For Weeks

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s playing status remains unclear after he left Sunday’s game at Indianapolis in the first quarter in his return from a two-game absence with a right shoulder injury.

Coach Kevin Stefanski offered few details Monday on Watson, who strained the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder on Sept. 24 against Tennessee. He sat out the following week against Baltimore and again on Oct. 15 against San Francisco.

Stefanski did not address a specific question about whether Watson underwent more medical tests, saying the team was awaiting results on a bunch of guys.

Stefanski was also vague on whether the team would consider putting Watson on injured reserve, giving him four weeks to heal.

Listen, he’s getting better,

Stefanski said.

He’s a competitive kid. He is working hard.

Stefanski reiterated Watson’s injury is being treated “day to day,” the team’s standard line after some mixed messages over the past few weeks.

Watson returned to practice last week and started against the Colts after being listed as questionable.

But he was on the field for only 12 plays, leaving after being knocked down while throwing an incompletion and hitting his head on the turf.

Watson passed NFL concussion protocol testing and was cleared to play, but Stefanski chose to keep him on the sideline and go with backup P.J. Walker, who helped lead the Browns to a 39-38 win.

After the game, Stefanski said he made the decision to “protect our franchise quarterback” and said Watson will start this Sunday at Seattle.

During a Zoom call with reporters on Monday, Stefanski reiterated that he felt it was too risky for Watson to go back into the game.

I thought that was a big hit,

he said.

I saw it up on the big screen when they showed the replay of it. So, I just felt like the right thing for the team was to protect him. … I’m always going to be protective of our players, especially at the quarterback position.

Just felt like the right thing in that moment was to hold him out of that game.

Watson has made only nine starts for Cleveland in two seasons since signing a $230 million contract with the Browns. He was suspended 11 games last season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Deshaun Watson exited the Browns” Week 7 win over the Colts after being hit by Indianapolis defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo.

While he cleared a concussion test, Watson did not reenter the game as the Browns wanted to be cautious, CBS Sports sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala said at the start of the second half.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said following Sunday”s 39-38 win that Watson will start next week”s game against the Seattle Seahawks — that is, if he can suit up.

He”s our starter moving forward,

Stefanski said of Watson, via Cleveland.com.

He”s our starter in Seattle. It”s always going to be my decision to protect our players.

On Monday, Stefanski was asked if the Browns would consider placing Watson on injured reserve. He replied saying that the quarterback is day-to-day. The Browns are awaiting the results of an MRI, per Stefanski.

Despite clearing concussion protocol, Watson appeared to have lingering affects from the hit. He grabbed his right shoulder after being hit, had difficulty lifting his right arm and did not attempt a pass on the sideline.

On the play where he was injured, Watson stayed on the ground for several moments before leaving the field with assistance from the team”s medical staff. He then went into the team”s medical tent.

Watson had been questionable with a shoulder injury heading into the Week 7 game. He left the game with just over three minutes left in the first quarter with the Browns trailing the Colts, 14-7.

Cleveland”s starting quarterback was just 1 of 5 for five yards with an interception up to that point.

PJ Walker, who started in placed of an injured Watson during last week”s win over the 49ers, replaced Watson in the starting lineup.

Walker led the Browns on consecutive scoring drives upon entering the game despite not completing his lone pass attempt.

The first score — a short touchdown run by Kareem Hunt — was set up by Myles Garrett”s strip-sack of Gardner Minshew. Cleveland”s next drive ended with a field goal after the Browns” special teams blocked a field goal attempt.

Walker finished the game with 178 yards on 15 of 32 passing. Despite his underwhelming numbers, the Browns edged the Colts, 39-38, while improving to 4-2 on the season.

The Browns” offense suffered another blow on Sunday when quarterback Deshaun Watson left Cleveland”s Week 7 contest with the Colts.

Watson, who only recently returned to action after missing Weeks 5 and 6 with a right shoulder injury, found himself on the mend once more after taking a shot from EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo while attempting a throw late in the first quarter of Sunday”s affair.

Although Odeyingbo avoided leveling Watson with a particularly crunching strike, Watson slammed the back of his head into the turf. He laid sprawled on the grass for some time before being assisted to the sideline.

WOW: Here is the play where Deshaun Watson got injured, he gets shoved to the ground really hard by the defender and his head slams extremely hard

Here”s the latest on Watson”s status in Week 8 and beyond.

Watson was sidelined after appearing to bump his head on the turf following his collision with Odeyingbo. However, he was cleared of a concussion soon after, per Cleveland.com”s Mary Kay Cabot.

That didn”t stop the Browns from playing backup P.J. Walker, however. Watson”s understudy retained his spot under center in game”s final three quarters and fared well, even leading Cleveland down the field for a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a game-winning touchdown in the game”s final moments.

#Browns P.J.Walker coming back out with 3:51 left in the half even tho Deshaun Watson cleared of a concussion
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot)

Stefanski explained his decision to play Walker — who completed 15-of-32 passes for 178 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception on Sunday — as such:

I just did not want to put [Watson] back out there. I wanted to protect our franchise quarterback. That was my decision.

Watson said he understood.

Of course I want to compete, I”m a competitor,
Watson said.

I want to go out there and help the team as much as possible. … The decision was what”s best for the team.

Watson completed just one of five pass attempts for five yards and an interception before leaving the Week 7 contest.

Despite Stefanski”s decision, he reasserted his faith in his starter. It”s too early to tell if Watson will be able to participate in practices over the course of the week. But come Cleveland”s Week 8 game against Seattle? He”ll be there — the organization did not grant him an injury designation postgame.

“He”s our starter in Seattle,” Stefanski said.