The Cleveland Browns have officially ruled out quarterback Deshaun Watson against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
XFL legend P.J. Walker is set to start in Watson’s place. Walker will be the 36th quarterback to start for the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999. He will be the fourth quarterback to start for the team since they traded for Watson in the summer of 2022.
#Browns Deshaun Watson has been ruled out and PJ Walker will start vs #49ers
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 13, 2023
Despite his shoulder being structurally sound, I'm told Deshaun Watson has worked hard with trainers to get back. It was explained to me by a source, he can't drive through the ball at a high level to play in a game.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 13, 2023
Watson injured his throwing shoulder in the third quarter of a Week 3 win against the Tennessee Titans. Though Watson went on to finish the best game of his Browns career, he suffered what the team called a “shoulder contusion” to his throwing arm.
Watson remained steadfast that the injury wouldn’t prevent him from playing in a Week 4 tilt against the Ravens. When Watson missed that game, the CBS broadcast revealed that an MRI to Watson’s shoulder showed fluid around his rotator cuff. (The Browns instead started Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who completed 19 of 36 passes for just 121 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions, and they lost 28-3.)
Still, Watson and coaches remained adamant that Watson would start against the 49ers after the bye week. But Watson continued to miss practice, and the Browns didn’t wait until the day of the game this week to make the decision.
The NFL world was quick to react to this move, with many joking that Watson would rather sit than face the dynamic pass rush of the 49ers:
Stefanski said he was medically cleared two weeks ago. Not a contract thing, obviously. Weird. https://t.co/NjAStpT6Gq
— Danny Heifetz (@Danny_Heifetz) October 13, 2023
Pray for my guy PJ 🙏🏾 Steve Wilks about to have him in a blender. https://t.co/EEMrMfVgPm
— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) October 13, 2023
How can you NOT laugh at the browns fanbase😂 https://t.co/51CuJ8Y7YZ
— Der German Tiger🐅 (@DerGermanTiger) October 13, 2023
Your infrequent reminder that the @HoustonTexans fleeced the @Browns on this trade.
Watson is a petulant headcase. The Browns were fools to take him, much less give him all that guaranteed money.
I hope the Browns nose dive so the Texans draft pick improves. https://t.co/OoWaGhAoUC
— KnightRider (@fdknight) October 13, 2023
XFL legend PJ Walker, I am sorry in advance for what San Fran will probably do to you. https://t.co/kMQJdTQv07
— Tristan Pratt (@206minotaur) October 13, 2023
[Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter]
