Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss his third consecutive game on Sunday as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury.
Watson started last Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns but left after completing five pass attempts. Backup P.J. Walker will again get the start on Sunday when the Browns visit the Seattle Seahawks.
According to a report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Browns do no plan to put Watson on the injured reserve. A player who is placed on the IR has to miss a minimum of four games, and Russini added that Watson has had “slight improvements” in his recovery:
“Day-to-day. That’s the assessment that league sources continue to share in regard to Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson’s injured throwing shoulder. Multiple people have emphasized that Watson wants to be on the field, although the franchise quarterback admitted he doesn’t know how long the injury is going to linger.
Team sources share there is no plan at this point to place Watson on IR, and that the team wanted him to use this past week as “time to heal.” The goal is to get Watson to drive the ball with ease, comfort and little to no effort. Though Watson dealt with some swelling this past week, I was told he made slight improvements.”
Though the Browns have won three of four starts with Watson, his production has been inconsistent at best. The former first-round pick has a 61.7 completion percentage with just 683 yards and four touchdowns against three interceptions.
In Watson’s absence, Walker has won both games despite throwing zero touchdowns against three interceptions. Fortunately for Cleveland quarterbacks, the Browns have been getting by with a stingy defense led by new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
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After visiting the Seahawks on Sunday, the Browns will return home for a contest against the one-win Arizona Cardinals. That game may also mark the season debut of Arizona QB Kyler Murray, who is working his way to a return from surgery on a torn ACL he suffered last year.
