By Jordan Long
The Cleveland Browns have been one of the surprises in the NFL so far this year. They sit at 6-3, one game back of the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North Division. The Browns though will be without quarterback Deshaun Watson who will need season ending surgery on his right shoulder.
Watson is in his second season with the Browns. He started 6 games for the Browns this year. His record in those games was 5-1. He was the reason the Browns were winning football games. Watson was leading the Browns down the field throwing 1,115 yards and 7 touchdowns. His line protected him so he could buy more time to throw the football. Watson has only been sacked 17 times this year.
Even with his line protecting him, he was still forcing the ball into coverage trying to make a big play. Those passes were either batted down for incompletions or picked off. Watson’s completion percentage stands at 61.4%. He has been picked off 7 times.
Watson played last week against the Ravens. He played well, completing 20 of 34 passes for 213 yards with 1 touchdown. Watson was also picked off 1 time. Watson led them on a 12 play 58 yard drive that set up Dustin Hopkins game winning 40-yard field goal as time expired. The Browns escaped with a 33-31 victory.
Watson though was hit in the first quarter. He was shaken up but didn’t miss any time. It looked like he would be good to go for this week. An MRI showed a displaced fracture to the glenoid which will require surgery, ending his season.
The Browns know this is a big loss at the position. They will move forward with PJ Walker. Walker started 2 games for the Browns this season. He is 1-1 as their starter. Walker has struggled as the Browns’ quarterback. He has passed for 618 yards and thrown 1 touchdown. Walker’s problem is reading the defense. He is forcing the ball into coverage or not seeing where a defender is. Those are easy picks totaling 5.
The Browns are in the playoff hunt in the AFC. They haven’t earned a playoff spot since 2020. That season they were knocked off in the Divisional Round by the Kansas City Chiefs. If they manage to miss the playoffs, Watson’s injury would be the turning point of the season.
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