15 November 2023 , 17:24
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The Cleveland Browns will be without their franchise quarterback for the remainder of the 2023 NFL regular season due to injury - and they may have already given away their best option.
Deshaun Watson sustained a shoulder injury in the Week 10 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The Browns confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that Watson would require surgery on his right shoulder, and would be sidelined for the remainder of the season after being placed on injured reserve.
Cleveland said in the statement that the front office hopes to have Watson back available for the 2024 season. However, the Browns still have eight regular season games to play this season to try and improve on the 6-3 record for the year that has them in the playoff mix.
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Watson was dealing with a shoulder injury earlier in the season, which led to P.J. Walker being named as the starter for the Games in Weeks 6, 7, and 8 against the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Indianapolis Colts.
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Walker was initially expected to be installed as the new starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Walker has played four games this season for the Browns, including three as a starter.
However, it seems that the Browns have decided to start a different quarterback in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to Bleacher Report, rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is set to be the starter against the Steelers and for the season moving forward.
Before the start of the season, Cleveland had Joshua Dobbs as part of their QB room. On Aug. 25, Dobbs was traded to the Arizona Cardinals without ever playing a game for the AFC North franchise. Dobbs' trade came just a day after Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke about how highly he rated the 28-year-old quarterback.
“I’ve been very blessed to be around some great backup quarterbacks, some young guys, some old guys, different styles of players,” Stefanski said on Aug. 24 via The Associated Press.
“It’s an important fit in that room. That’s why I’m so excited about our room in total, with everybody we have in there.
“It’s a great room where they push each other, they challenge each other, they support each other, and I think all of our guys fit that mold.”
Before last month's trade deadline, Dobbs was on the move again as he was acquired by the Minnesota Vikings. Dobbs played eight games for the Cardinals as their starting quarterback before being traded.
Dobbs is now the starting QB for the Vikings following the Achilles injury sustained by Kirk Cousins. Dobbs has won both of his games with Minnesota, completing three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Cleveland could not have predicted that Watson would require season-ending surgery at the time of trading Dobbs. Now the Browns will be left wondering what may have been had they opted to keep Dobbs as part of their roster.