The Cleveland Browns were reportedly caught off guard when Deshaun Watson opted not to play against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 due to a shoulder injury suffered the previous week against the Tennessee Titans.
The Ravens rolled to an easy victory, 28-3, as Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson looked every bit the first-year player in the emergency start.
The Browns were off last week, and the team had stressed that Watson’s shoulder would be good to go to face the San Francisco 49ers and their dynamic pass rush on Sunday.
But when the Browns opened practice Monday, Watson was nowhere to be seen.
Curiously, the Browns later clarified that Watson was working inside the team facility while his teammates practiced outside.
#Browns Deshaun Watson worked inside today while the team practiced outside
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 9, 2023
Head coach Kevin Stefanki later declined an opportunity to say he’s optimistic that Watson will play against the 49ers:
#Browns Kevin Stefanski declined a chance to say he's optimistic that Deshaun Watson will face the #49ers on Sunday: "He's day to day, working hard, getting better"
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 9, 2023
The Browns, despite their surprising defense, almost certainly need a healthy Watson at quarterback if they’re going to reach their championship ambitions. But even while healthy, Watson has struggled to regain the form that caused the Browns to guarantee all $230 million of his contract when they traded for him last season.
Nevertheless, the NFL world was quick to react to the surprising report from Browns’ practice:
This is a new one, even for the Browns. https://t.co/g5EVquL8n7
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 9, 2023
Deshaun Watson at practice this morning after watching that 49ers pass rush last night pic.twitter.com/9kj39Ol4g3
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) October 9, 2023
this feels like it's headed in a weird direction https://t.co/Ml0j80uh5o
— Jordan Zirm (@JordanZirm) October 9, 2023
Maybe we’re putting a dome on the stadium for Sunday. Staying positive https://t.co/TLjBoTCigW
— TheKardiacKid (@TheKardiac_Kid) October 9, 2023
Watson inside: https://t.co/zJfhRM0iKM pic.twitter.com/c0NLR4VoDr
— Mikey 🌲 🚗 🔑s (@lilOUmikey) October 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/madden_tron/status/1711413271884882040
