The Cleveland Browns won 39-38 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, improving their record to 4-2.
Deshaun Watson left Sunday’s game just three minutes into the first quarter and never returned.
Dayo Odeyingbo hit Watson as he tried to throw him downfield, which would have been his second interception had he not been knocked down later.
Watson was left on the ground after the play when his head hit the ground and he fell backwards.
P J. Walker succeeded Watson. Walker completed 15 of 32 passes for 178 yards and one interception.
The Browns’ running attack added three touchdowns, including Kareem Hunt’s game-winning score with 15 seconds left.
When Watson entered the medical tent, his arm and shoulder were examined and checked for a concussion. After leaving the tent, he did not return to the game.
During the third quarter of the game, CBS reported that Waston had been cleared of a concussion and that Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was very cautious regarding Watson’s health.
In his post-match press conference, Stefanski said: “I didn’t want to let him out anymore.
He cleared the concussion protocol, but I wanted to protect our franchise quarterback. It was my decision.
Quarterback: What happens next?
Watson was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game due to his rotator cuff bruise.
After missing the Browns’ last two games, he returned to practice Thursday and was a full participant Friday.
It certainly seemed like a rushed return to the field given, as he put it, things were “up in the air” on Wednesday.
At the same press conference, he was asked if he was worried about the lingering injury and if he would be able to return to 100% at some point this season.
“I’m not sure. This is my first time dealing with a rotator cuff, so I’m just trying to be as comfortable as possible and go out there and perform at the level that I know I can.
And if I can’t, then we have to take it day by day. I won’t put the team in danger if I can’t do certain things that could hinder us in certain situations.That’s why I couldn’t go on the field.”
Watson’s response now takes on a different light after he failed to make it through the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
There are several forces at play when it comes to influencing Watson to play. While it seemed like an all-too-quick return to live play, it’s certainly possible that the owner, front office or others in the building want to see their highly paid quarterback on the field as soon as possible.
To me, two days of throwing and one day of true release are not enough for a quarterback to return to his starting role after missing a month.
As expected, the decision turned out to be an error of judgment. Watson didn’t seem willing to come back, and his few throws in the game missed the target and went out of rhythm.
More questions arise as Stefanski’s decision to keep him out of the game raises many questions about Watson’s future effectiveness.
The pressing question quickly becomes whether he will be able to play at an effective level in the near future.
If the answer is no or they’re unsure, Andrew Berry should be on the phone trying to add another quarterback option into the equation.
This Browns team is too good defensively and too talented overall to let this season go to waste because they don’t have enough quarterback production.
While I’m not giving up on the possibility that Watson can return to the field and thrive in 2023, I’m committed to ensuring the front office takes an honest, objective look at exactly what he’s dealing with.
If Watson is not fully healthy, they should look for another option until he is healthy.
Decisions regarding the Cleveland Browns’ 2023 starting quarterback cannot be based on hopes and best-case scenarios.
It’s not fair to this organization and its fans to continue to bide our time and hope for the best. Real answers are expected very soon.
Grit, Moxy, Luck… Call it what you want
The Browns have now won two straight games that I’ve seen them lose for years.
The Browns didn’t play their best game on Sunday, but against all odds, they found a way to outlast their opponents and win a crucial AFC road game.
This team is strong mentally and physically and doesn’t give up. You showed courage, heart and dynamism, just as I hoped.
This team is easy to get excited about, it has an identity. The Browns have players on this team who have been in these wars before and are finding ways to win.
It’s a different feeling and it’s meaningful.
Wide receiver
Donovan Peoples-Jones and Elijah Moore both made huge catches on Sunday’s final drive.
Although they have come under increased scrutiny recently, this large core merits evaluation under normal circumstances before writing it off. Sunday, the third game was played without the starting quarterback; Two matches were climatic matches, one of them ended in defeat in the second half.
The game scripts were not ideal for wide receiver production.
Still, they were ready and played as they cruised to a decisive victory against the Colts.
I get along well with this group and wouldn’t trade any of them, nor do I think it’s necessary to bring in anyone via trade.
When the quarterback position is stabilized, they will produce. Cleveland Browns options at quarterback
P J. Walker has now been recalled from the practice squad for three games and is therefore subject to waivers this week.
The Browns can attempt to sign him to the 53-man roster or offer him back to the practice squad after clearing waivers.
Jacoby Brissett
The name most often rejected as a trade candidate is Jacoby Brissett. He had a great season in Cleveland last year with a career-best performance.
As the GM and HC roles are combined under Ron Rivera, he won’t be in a hurry to collect assets for 2024 because if he doesn’t win this year he will be fired, meaning the price will be high, which will make him an offer he cannot reasonably refuse.
Former backup quarterback Josh Dobbs was traded for a fifth along with a seventh in the preseason. Looking at how teams evaluate the two players.
Dobbs signed for $2M/1, while Brissett got $8M/1. So he’s significantly better in the eyes of NFL teams.
If the Browns asked for a trade, the commanders would know they were desperate.
I think this would mean they will probably set the value at a 3rd round for Brissett and a 7th. As we know, Andrew Berry doesn’t want to reduce the number of draft picks because they are valuable.
The Browns would make $1,833,333 for the remainder of the season; Commanders would be left with $6,166,667 in dead cap.
Brissett isn’t going to be a quarterback who can take you to the Super Bowl, so you’d only make this move if you needed someone to carry the team in the next few weeks, but Watson will be back in the postseason.
Kirk Cousins
The salary cap cost to acquire Kirk Cousins for the remainder of the season would be $6,111,111, which is expensive, but not too hard to swallow for the quality of quarterback play he would provide.
A player with his talent is unlikely to ever be discussed in mid-season trades.
The rumor was that he wouldn’t consider a trade because he didn’t want to learn a new playbook during the season.
This is wise because he doesn’t want to hurt his free agency trade value as he is about to reach free agency and start earning again.
Since he already knows Stefanski’s playbook, and a playoff run could increase his free agency value, perhaps it offers him enough to waive his no-trade clause.
If he came in, it would be because you would move Watson to IR and then ride Cousins for the remainder of 2023.
His trade value is difficult to calculate because there aren’t many players you can easily compare him to.
I would say Von Miller is probably the best comparison, second and third.
Andrew Berry would probably like to recover some choices, so maybe something like:
2024 2nd
2025 3rd
Cousins
2024 5
2025 6
Conclusion
I would have no interest in giving up any deal that includes a third-round pick for Brissett, because to me you don’t get much closer to winning the Super Bowl, and that should be the goal.
Trading for Cousins, on the other hand, is expensive in terms of trade assets, but I would consider it if he agreed to waive his no-trade clause.
If you’ve had success with Cousins and the trust with Watson behind the scenes has been lost, you might also want to consider extending him.
People are going crazy over the $46 million per year deal, but if we act rationally and look at the numbers, the Browns are currently spending $50.8 million per year more than the league average.
So you can eat Watson’s deal and still outperform teams like the Chiefs, Eagles, and Cowboys.
