Browns Deshaun Watson release official statement why he struggled during colts game
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson doesn’t think he’s fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered during the team’s 39-38 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Watson started the game, but went 1-for-5 for 5 yards and an interception before leaving.
On Thursday, he told reporters that, looking back, he was “unprepared.”
Watson’s comments support what some people think. The three-time Pro Bowler wasn’t his usual self until he was hit by Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyinbo in the first quarter.
Coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters after the game that he decided not to play the veteran signal caller after clearing the concussion protocol.
The Browns at least removed any uncertainty about Watson’s status in Week 8 by sending him to Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
However, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio described a “weird atmosphere” in Northeast Ohio due to Watson’s ongoing shoulder issues and confusion over his weekly availability.
It’s not good for a player with $230 million fully guaranteed to give the impression that his absence was due in part to injury.
Cleveland has the best defense in the NFL this season.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper is poised for another 1,000-yard campaign.
Running back Jerome Ford did a great job filling in for the injured Nick Chubb on the floor.
The Browns can’t blame fans for being a little worried about Watson, as they’re confident they’ll be the best team in the AFC North once he’s healthy.
But the 28-year-old remains under contract through 2026, so the organization needs to focus on the big picture.
Trying to balance the short term and the long term can lead to delicate situations, and that’s where Watson and Cleveland come in.
