MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Browns QB Deshaun Watson on missing games due to shoulder injury: 'I'm not gonna put the team in jeopardy'

Deshaun Watson's ongoing shoulder mystery received some much-needed clarity on Wednesday when the quarterback spoke for the first time since he missed a Week 4 loss to the Ravens.

The main takeaway, however, won't be too satisfying to Browns fans. Watson's status remains uncertain for the Browns' upcoming trip to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday. As the case has been since Week 4, there's a chance Watson could play this weekend, but it will depend on how he feels.

"I think so, it just depends on the process of the medical stuff and the treatment and rehab that we're doing day to day," said Watson, who sat out practice on Wednesday. "So it's up in the air for sure."

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that Watson is "making progress" but remains day to day.

Now, for the new information: Watson confirmed his shoulder injury is a rotator cuff issue, a more significant ailment than the simple contusion that most believed was the problem following Cleveland's Week 3 win over the Titans. This, of course, helps explain Watson's absence, which has lasted longer than initially expected.

"This is my first time dealing with a rotator cuff, so I'm just trying to get as comfortable as I possibly can to go out there and perform at the level I know I can," Watson told reporters on Wednesday. "If I can't, then we've just got to continue to take it day to day. I'm not gonna put the team in jeopardy if I can't do certain things that [are] gonna allow us to be handicapped in certain situations. So that's the reason why I haven't been able to step on the field."

At minimum, Browns fans are likely happy to hear Watson's explanation, especially after being led to believe the quarterback could not play through a contusion for two games (plus a bye week). Historically, rotator cuff issues can cause lingering problems for quarterbacks: Cam Newton underwent two surgeries on his shoulder (one for a partially torn rotator cuff, and the other being an arthroscopic procedure) in 2017 and early 2019, and both preceded an end to his time in Carolina. Drew Brees also once suffered a significant shoulder injury that included damage to his rotator cuff in 2005, which spelled an end to his time in San Diego. Brees later lamented the injury as the reason he couldn't play beyond his age-41 season.

Such an injury isn't the easiest to play through, either, considering how important a throwing shoulder is for a quarterback.

Cleveland has allowed Watson to take a cautious approach with his ailment, turning to rookie backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Week 4 and veteran P.J. Walker in a Week 6 win over the then-undefeated 49ers. Stefanski said on Wednesday that Walker will start this Sunday if Watson is unable to play.

The Browns have been able to get by with their stellar defense, scoring the upset San Francisco last weekend, but with each passing week, their patience will be tested.

We'll see if Watson is able to suit up in Week 7, or if it will be Walker under center, this time against a Colts team that has also been forced to rely on its backup following a season-ending shoulder injury to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.

NFL.com

 

“Deshaun, it seems like he’s going to practice today,” Cooper said. “So, I’ll be communicating with Deshaun this week — barring any setback or anything like that.”

Does that mean he’s expecting Watson to play on Sunday against the Colts?

“You’ll have to ask Deshaun,” Cooper said. “I don’t know.”

Watson has not practiced since the Browns returned from their Week 5 bye. In the lead up to the Week 4 contest against the Ravens, Watson was on the field for practice but he wasn’t throwing.

Watson described his injury on Wednesday as a “micro-tear” in his right rotator cuff.

Cooper said that if Watson is able to play this week, it would be a “huge boost” to the team.

“Deshaun is our guy,” Cooper said. “At the end of the day, we all know who Deshaun is. We’ve seen all the plays that he’s been able to make throughout his career. It’s just like any other team. You’re confident when your starting guy is in the lineup, 100 percent. So, it would be a huge boost.”

IN PART, PFT
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I would have asked Cooper to whom or what does he base this assumption on, but thats just me.

 

Kenny Pickett: It’s awesome to have Diontae Johnson back

Pittsburgh’s offense will get a boost this week with the return of receiver Diontae Johnson.

The veteran receiver has been sidelined by a hamstring injury since Week 1 and the Steelers have missed him. Quarterback Kenny Pickett said on Wednesday that it’s great to have Johnson back on the field.

“[Johnson brings] his experience and route running and understanding of our offense and what we want to do,” Pickett said in his press conference. “You know, I feel like another guy that if he’s one on one, he’s going to win for me. He does a great job in all areas of being a receiver, so it’s awesome to have him.”

Pickett added that he feels like Johnson is one of the players who can help get him easy completions.

“I mean, he’s just a really talented player overall,” Pickett said. “He does a lot of different things, you know, really well for us. A great guy to talk to on the bench with seeing different things defensively and what they’re doing. So, guy gets open, guy moves the chains for us. Going to be a huge asset moving forward.”

Johnson’s presence should also help unlock some more plays for second-year receiver George Pickens, with Pickett noting Johnson can help balance a defense’s focus.

“George was getting a lot of attention. He was still having success, but there [was] still a lot of attention going to [No.] 14’s way,” Pickett said. “Now that [No.] 18 is back out there. I feel like he kind of balances us up a little bit. So, you know, good to see how they play us here on Sunday. I’ll figure it out.”

Johnson caught three passes for 48 yards before going down in Week 1. Last season, he finished with 86 catches for 882 yards.

PFT

 

Thanks Will on the Lawrence Update........I'm going to gamble and make him active for tonight's game.

 

Trevor Lawrence (knee) is active for Week 7 against the Saints.

Lawrence is expected to play with a brace on the short week. For what it’s worth, he appeared no worse for the wear during pre-game warmups. The Saints’ pass-tough defense is a bigger concern than Lawrence’s knee, though with six teams on bye, many managers will probably still be forced to play him, anyways. He belongs on the QB1/2 borderline.

 

I picked the saints because I thought Lawrence wouldn’t be good at the short week to get ready. Oh well

 

Justin Fields - OUT

Jones and Watson - QUESTIONABLE

 

Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer will start on Sunday against the Bears.

With Jimmy Garoppolo injured, Hoyer will get the start at Chicago, according to multiple reports. Officially, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has refused to say whether Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell will start in place of Garoppolo.

When Garoppolo missed the Raiders’ Week Four game against the Chargers, it was O’Connell who started. But since then Hoyer has moved ahead of O’Connell on the depth chart: When Garoppolo exited last week’s game against the Patriots, McDaniels sent Hoyer in to replace him. Hoyer played well in limited action in that game, and that apparently solidified McDaniels’ belief that Hoyer gives his team the best chance to win.

If McDaniels were looking to build the Raiders for the future, starting the rookie O’Connell over the 38-year-old Hoyer would make sense. But McDaniels is prioritizing winning now for the 3-3 Raiders, and the Bears, who are starting rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent in place of the injured Justin Fields, are a very beatable opponent.

This will be Hoyer’s first start as a Raider and the 41st start of his career, for the eighth different team: Hoyer has previously started one game for the Cardinals, 16 for the Browns, nine for the Texans, five for the Bears, six for the 49ers, one for the Colts and two for the Patriots.

NBC

 

Deshaun Watson is back.

The Browns quarterback missed the last two games with a right shoulder injury, but signs in recent days pointed to him making a return to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Colts. His return became official 90 minutes ahead of kickoff when the Browns released an inactive list without Watson on it.

Cleveland went 1-1 without Watson. P.J. Walker started in last Sunday’s win over the 49ers and is active as the backup. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson started the first game Watson missed and will be the third quarterback eligible to play in an emergency on Sunday.

Running back Kareem Hunt, who was questionable with a thigh injury, is also active for the Browns.

 

Hear a take on the radio earlier where the guy (don't remember who) think Jim Harbaugh may pull a Pete Carroll and avoid trouble with the NCAA and jump to the pros as the new head coach of the Bears. So Bears fans what's you take would that be good or bad.

 

Jalen Hurts says he'll be ok. Post game interview he didnt sound worried and said he was just preparing for the next game.

 

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is back to being considered day-to-day.

That’s what head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters in his Monday video conference following Sunday’s victory over the Colts. Watson sustained a hit on an incomplete pass with 3:13 left in the first quarter and while he was cleared of concussion protocol, Stefanski elected to hold the quarterback out of the game.

Now after missing the Week 4 loss to Baltimore and the Week 6 win over San Francisco, Watson’s status again appears up in the air for the Week 8 matchup in Seattle.

“As you can imagine, all hits are tough. But I thought that was a big hit,” Stefanski said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I saw it up on the big screen when they showed the replay of it. Know, obviously, [it was] a hit on the shoulder, taking him in checking for a concussion, so I just felt like the right thing for the team was to protect him.”

When asked if injured reserve is a consideration for Watson, Stefanski reiterated that the quarterback is day-to-day.

“He’s getting better,” Stefanski said, via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. “He’s a competitive kid. He’s working hard.”

Watson attempted only five passes before Stefanski shut him down for the day. He completed one of them for 5 yards and threw an interception.

PFT

 

IMHO, Stefanski was avoiding throwing Watson under the bus. On the four throws Watson made prior to the fifth one (where he was leveled), Watson looked like shit. He wasn't hit on the shoulder, nor did he land on the shoulder. His helmet DID bounce off of the turf - which put him in the tent to be checked for a concussion.

Of bigger concern to Stefanski now is to come up with a plan that doesn't waste what appears to be a dominant defense.

• He's now down to (at best) RB3 with Chubb on I/R and Ford now dinged up as well. Kareem Hunt never was (or ever will be) a 3-down back. Behind him are recent running back additions that, so far, haven't shown why they were worth bringing in.
• The Wide Receiver group, aside from Amari Cooper, isn't exactly setting league on fire and Cooper for the most part hasn't found himself with the ball in the end zone very often. Some of that could probably (likely) be attributed to piss poor QB play, but still . . .
• With Watson uncommitted, Stefanski has to either turn P.J. Walker and/or DTR into legitimate NFL QB's -or- hope Andrew Berry can somehow bring one in and those pickings are slim indeed.

 

You can get Rudolph for a second rd pick.

 

Cue @gidion72 will some snide comment in 3 - 2 - 1


{missed it by 30 seconds}

 

You are a little late

 

Pierre Strong has decent numbers in limited action (21/102/1), hopefully he can go tandem with Hunt and I suspect at the moment there is no other choice. Hopefully Ford can rub some dirt on his injury, spit on it, tape it, something and get back to action soon.

 

Good Luck tonight Will and Viking Fans....

Will, have you heard any News on RB McCaffrey for 49ers ?

In my Money league I picked up Cam Akers (Viking) just in case Mc does not play tonight....and San Fran is saying he is a game time decision.....I hate it when they say that as Mc is my #1 RB and Draft Pick.....I need him to play.

Thank You Will.

 

According to Adam Schefter, he is playing despite having an Oblique injury. He's a tough SOB.