Browns' Deshaun Watson out again; P.J. Walker to start vs. Seahawks
The "will he or won't he play" game won't happen this week with Deshaun Watson. The Browns already know he won't play when they travel to play the Seattle Seahawks.
Wednesday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski ruled out Watson. P.J. Walker, who was signed to the active roster earlier in the day, will start on Sunday.
Watson continues to battle through the strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder he sustained a month ago in the Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans. He returned to the field for roughly a quarter in this past Sunday's win at the Indianapolis Colts before leaving after being knocked down on a pass play.
"Deshaun's just going to focus on his rehab," Stefanski said Wednesday. "I just feel like, with what happened in the game, landing on his shoulder, there's residual swelling that's affecting his throwing. I think it's the best thing for him to rest it this week and focus on the rehab. As I've told you guys, I will always make what I feel are the best decisions for our football team, for Deshaun, and I feel like this is the best decision."
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Watson did not play in the Browns' Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and the Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers. After returning to the starting lineup against the Colts, he was pulled from the game with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter after being shaken up when he was knocked down by Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo.
Watson was checked on the sideline for a concussion by the league's independent neurologist, who cleared him. An MRI on Monday showed no further damage to the shoulder.
The injury originally occurred in the third quarter of the Browns' Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans when he took a hit from safety Amani Hooker. Watson finished that game, his best start in 10 games with the Browns, as he was 27-of-33 for 289 yards with two touchdowns.
Watson attempted just five passes over the course of 12 plays — four offensive series — against the Colts, completing only a 5-yard pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones. He threw one interception and had another one, on the play in which he left the game, reversed on review.