Cleveland Browns perform sudden U-turn on quarterback Deshaun Watson

26 October 2023 , 23:25

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski stated Watson would play, before the team ruled him out just days later

Deshaun Watson has now indeed been ruled out of playing against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend - just days after his head coach stated he would play.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback suffered a head injury in last weekend's game with the Indianapolis Colts, after returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out for two weeks.

Watson left the game and was assessed, with him being cleared of concussion protocol. However, he did not come back into the game, with backup PJ Walker taking over and remaining in - despite Watson being cleared by doctors.

After the game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski stated that the decision was made to "take care of their franchise quarterback", with him set to return for the Seahawks game.

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And now, just days later, Watson has been ruled out for the game - with his shoulder reportedly being re-injured, with scans showing residual damage.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Watson revealed that he should not have played against the Colts - stating that he came back too early.

He said: "I don't know. The timeline for rotator cuffs is usually four-to-six weeks. I felt during the week that I had an opportunity to play. Right at that three-week, four-week mark. I just didn't have the strength and things like that to be able to go out there and play a full and complete game."

Deshaun Watson spoke to reporters on Thursday after being ruled out for the game this weekend

Watson then had an answer for critics who had suggested he did not want to play, after not re-entering the game and now taking more time to recover.

He said: "Why wouldn't I want to play? I worked my a** off for two years to get back to be able to play. So why wouldn't I?"

These questions came after fans had summarised that Watson has no incentive to play, with his contract being fully-guaranteed, and not receiving any bonuses for his play throughout the season.

The Browns traded three first-round picks for Watson prior to the start of the 2022 campaign and then signed him to a five-year, (£189 million ($230m), fully guarantee deal, after he had missed a year of action after being accused of sexual misconduct with multiple women in Texas when with the Houston Texans.

The team have already confirmed that they will start back-up Walker, who was on the practice squad just last week, after helping the team to a win over the San Francisco 49ers just two weeks ago.

Charlie Wilson