Getty Image / Nick Cammett
The Cleveland Browns have invested a ton into franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson. But, they may be without their star for a big chunk of the season after clarification was provided on a mysterious shoulder injury that kept him out of their week 4 loss to the Ravens. The team was on bye last week.
Here is ProFootballTalk with more on the situation.
Deshaun Watson will miss a second consecutive game — and third week — with a shoulder injury, and he could miss multiple more games.
Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports that the Browns quarterback was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff contusion. She adds that “it’s a deep contusion that presents or functions more like a strain.”
Watson, who injured his shoulder in the third quarter of the Sept. 24 game against the Titans, will not return to the field until he can throw normally and without pain.
Team doctors medically cleared him Oct. 1 with his shoulder structurally intact. The protocol now calls for rest and rehab with minimal throwing, according to Cabot.
Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Watson did some light throwing this week, but the coach offered no prognosis beyond this week.
A lot to unpack here regarding the 2-2 Browns and their starting quarterback.
Many had criticized Deshaun Watson for his late scratch two weeks ago. Some said that it was a lack of toughness from Deshaun Watson to scratch just before the game because something didn’t quite feel right. But, it’s clear now that there was something clearly wrong with that shoulder, and it’s probably best that he didn’t do more damage to it.
Cleveland started rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson in week 4. The UCLA alum had a fantastic preseason for Cleveland, but was not good at all against the Ravens. He was just 19-36 for 121 yards with no touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
Now, they will turn to former Carolina Panther PJ Walker, who will be the 36th quarterback to start a game for the Browns since they rejoined the league in 1999.
In the meantime, they’ve got to get Deshaun Watson healthy.