Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is still unavailable with a shoulder injury, missing practice once again on Wednesday. It’s looking increasingly unlikely that he’ll play this week against the San Francisco 49ers, and if that is the case, it sounds like the Browns will go with a different face at quarterback.
On Wednesday afternoon, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that if Deshaun Watson is unable to play this week, veteran quarterback P.J. Walker will be the team’s starting quarterback, which is a change from last week when the team gave the nod to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, instead.
“Just felt like it was the right decision for the team,” Stefanski said in his press conference. “I think PJ’s been here now for a month-plus, getting a better understanding of what we do. But just felt like it was the right decision for the team.”
It’s a significant and somewhat surprising announcement, considering Thompson-Robinson got very little notice before starting last week’s game against one of the top defenses in the league. And it led to quite a few reactions on social media.
Boy, did DTR get a raw deal.
He didn’t know he was playing until two hours before the game. Now it’s likely PJ Walker’s job.
— Nick Pedone (@NickPedone12) October 11, 2023
One game against elite defense and you already downgraded to QB3 as rookie QB.
Mindblowing.
We never going to be serious team #Browns https://t.co/9y4sSdHZG4— Cavenaghi (@_cavenaghi_) October 11, 2023
Man DTR got screwed. Very little notice that he was playing and then he plays with DW4s game plan…
— Isaac (@ikereyes31) October 11, 2023
I bet dtr wants to be released lol.. its better teams to be on lol
— Djwhoodat (sport takes) (@Djwhoodatt) October 11, 2023
dtr deserves better honestly, we did him dirty
— OFFSEASON MADNESS (@WatsonBettaD4L) October 11, 2023
Not only did he get thrown in at the last second. It was against a division rival and had to throw the ball 30+ times in his debut. https://t.co/0jdsoZzBlC
— Colton Steiner™ 🎙️ (@s_colton) October 11, 2023
Stefanski seemed to indicate that Walker’s experience helped push him over Thompson-Robinson on the depth chart.
“I think with a veteran, he’s played in some games, he’s won some games. Obviously, PJ’s not 40, but he’s won some games,” Stefanski said. “He’s been around a little bit. He’s played in different systems. He’s getting comfortable with what we do here and he’s got a great demeanor, great way about him.
“If PJ does end up playing, you’re just looking for him to be the best version of himself.”
If Watson is unavailable, as it looks like he will be, it will be interesting to see how Walker performs in his place.
