The Browns have returned to the postseason. From the seemingly immortal wonder Joe Flacco to an all-world defense anchored by recurring Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett, they have a wealth of players on their roster to thank.
However, one player who has been conspicuously missing from Cleveland’s recent triumphs is high-paid quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The former Texans QB, who was charged with more than 20 counts of sexual assault, was picked up by the Browns and signed to a fully guaranteed contract after much effort. However, here they are, a little over a year after rewarding the player who was found to have broken the league’s personal conduct standard, winning on the field while their star player is off it. What the heck is going on?
Here’s what you need to know about Watson’s whereabouts ahead of Cleveland’s wild-card clash with Houston.
Where is Deshaun Watson?
The Browns have been without their starting quarterback Watson for each of the past seven weeks. Watson led Cleveland to a come-from-behind victory over the Ravens in Week 10, overcoming a two-touchdown fourth-quarter deficit to break Baltimoreans’ hearts.
It would prove to be his last contribution to the campaign. Watson suffered a glenoid fracture in his throwing shoulder, the second significant ailment he suffered to his throwing shoulder this season. Watson had also been reported to have suffered a bruised rotator cuff earlier in the year.
It’s unclear when Watson suffered the malady. The Browns noted that Watson incurred a big hit during Cleveland’s Nov. 14 showcase against Baltimore.
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Either way, the implications were clear. Watson, despite his best wishes, was deemed unable to play for the remainder of the season. It called to a close to his 2023 campaign, one in which the signal-caller struggled under center to the tune of seven touchdowns and four interceptions to just 1,114 yards in six starts. Watson did lead Cleveland to a 5-1 record in those contests. But it was clear they’d need some strong QB play.
Enter Flacco, who reprised his role in burnt orange and brown after spending the whole of the year on the couch.
The 38-year-old has set the world alight since being recalled. In fact, he’s arguably found more success than his predecessor, so much so that some believe Watson could be on the outs once he returns to health.
| Deshaun Watson | 2023 Stats | Joe Flacco |
| 6 | GP | 5 |
| 5-1 | Record | 4-1 |
| 84.3 | Rating | 90.2 |
| 105-171 | Comp/Att | 123-204 |
| 61.4 | Comp. Pct. | 60.3 |
| 1,115 | Pass Yds | 1,616 |
| 7 | Pass TDs | 13 |
| 4 | INT | 8 |
Because Watson’s contract is fully guaranteed, the Browns will have to pay Watson regardless of how they choose to proceed.
For the time being, though, both Browns supporters and players will be praying that Flacco keeps on his comeback and leads Cleveland closer to a Super Bowl championship, which seemed increasingly unattainable when Watson first went down.
