Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson missed his team’s Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens due to a shoulder injury. The Browns had a bye in Week 5, giving Watson a chance to rest.
However, head coach Kevin Stefanski was rather diplomatic when asked about whether or not he was feeling optimistic concerning the chances of his signal-caller taking the field against the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.
“He’s day to day, working hard, getting better,” Stefanski said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
While it’s great that Watson, whose Week 4 scratch came as a surprise, is improving, it doesn’t sound like he is ready to return. Not yet, anyway.
In three games this season, Watson has thrown for 678 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 63.7 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 87.8.
The Browns have gotten off to a 2-2 start and are very much in contention in the competitive AFC North due to a dominant defense that is allowing just 196.8 yards per game thus far.
However, Cleveland will obviously require a healthy Watson if it wants to have any chance of winning the division. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are both currently ahead of the Browns at 3-2, and the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals are nipping at their heels following a Week 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals in which Joe Burrow appeared much healthier.
Cleveland initially acquired Deshaun Watson in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans in March 2022. The Browns then handed the 28-year-old a record-breaking five-year, $230 million contract which was fully guaranteed.
The Clemson product missed the first 11 games of last season due to a suspension for allegations of sexual misconduct and assault from two dozen women. All but one of the cases were settled.
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