The Cleveland Browns displayed tremendous excitement in acquiring former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. They traded three first-round draft picks to secure his services and did not hesitate to follow up with a blockbuster $230 million contract.
However, the investment in this player seems to be turning into a ‘loss project’ for the team. After missing 11 campaigns last year, the veteran has once again been sidelined this year due to a shoulder injury. Now, as the Browns strive to improve from their 2-2 record, his participation in the upcoming weeks remains uncertain.
Deshaun Watson to miss Browns Week 6 game vs 49ers
Watson couldn’t play the Browns’ recent match against the Baltimore Ravens due to a shoulder injury. Now, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, he is not ready to resume play after having the Week 5 bye to rest up, and will not be in the squad when the franchise hosts the San Fransisco 49ers on Sunday.
The dual-threat quarterback sustained an injury on September 24th during the third quarter of the Browns’ week 3 game against the Tennessee Titans when he lowered his shoulder into the Titans’ star player, Amani Hooker. Although he continued to play in that game, his absence from the following match and practice sessions indicated the severity of the injury.
With the 28-year-old quarterback unavailable to play against the 49ers, Cleveland will be relying on P.J. Walker to fill the role. Meanwhile, Dorian Thompson-Robinson seems unlikely to secure the position, especially after throwing three interceptions in Cleveland’s recent 28-3 loss to the Ravens.
Deshaun Watson likely to miss multiple games due to his shoulder injury
Watson’s injury was initially believed to be a bruise, and the doctors initially cleared him, stating that his shoulder was structurally intact. However, the test reports revealed significant weakness in his arm.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the quarterback has been diagnosed with a right rotator cuff contusion that functions more like a strain. Considering the severity of the strain, Pro Football Talk speculates that he might miss more games beyond Week 6.
The usual time period for a bruised rotator cuff is 2-6 weeks, and the franchise will be adopting a conservative approach to ensure their QB1’s healthy return. His recovery protocol requires rest and rehab with minimal throwing, and on Friday, Cleveland’s head coach Kevin Stefanski said, the veteran did some light throwing this week.
After facing San Francisco, the Browns will face off against the Indianapolis Colts on the road next week. Now, it remains to be seen if Watson’s condition improves by then. What’s your take on this? Tell us in the comments.
