An image—maybe one taken from the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia—is price a thousand phrases, as you’ve heard earlier than.
Cleveland Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry should be one for brevity, then, as a result of he delivered a snapshot of the workforce’s season in merely 21.
Standing within the majestic mountain backdrop of The Greenbrier final month because the Browns opened coaching camp, Berry spoke about quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“Our largest focus with Deshaun is simply ensuring that he’s out there,” Berry mentioned. “I believe the remaining will handle itself.”
You don’t say.
Nonetheless simply 28, Watson counts youth on his facet, if not sturdiness. His lack of appearances and manufacturing since becoming a member of the Browns in 2022 are well-publicized.
An 11-game suspension stemming from a number of accusations of sexual misconduct curtailed most of his debut season with the Browns. A season-ending shoulder damage Watson suffered on November 12 in Baltimore restricted him in 2023. It additionally paved the best way for veteran Joe Flacco to vacate his sofa and assist information Cleveland to 11 wins and a berth within the AFC playoffs.
Conserving Watson upright forward of the September 8 season opener in opposition to Dallas stays the aim, with the Browns banking on their QB turning a nook as long as he merely will get there. However wouldn’t it profit the Browns to trot him out for a sequence or two within the preseason?
It’s been greater than 9 months, in spite of everything, since Watson confronted a move rush in a recreation state of affairs, exhibition or in any other case. His completion share in 12 begins with the Browns is a meager 59.8.
In mid-August, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski indicated the plan was for Watson to begin Saturday as Cleveland visits the Seattle Seahawks in its preseason finale.
These snaps would mark the primary of the preseason for Watson, who skilled what the workforce known as “common arm soreness” this week, presumably muddling his standing for Saturday whilst Stefanski mentioned the damage wasn’t overly regarding.
One other issue: Accidents alongside the offensive line, particularly at left sort out, the place Germain Ifedi is transitioning after spending all however 4 snaps of his 102-game, 83-start profession on the suitable facet.
Though Watson missed only one observe in coaching camp, he didn’t seem within the first two preseason video games. That appears to jibe with the arrogance Berry and the group have in Watson, a would-be franchise expertise who, once more, hasn’t proven followers a lot since becoming a member of the Browns two years in the past.
The Browns returned a lot of that expertise and swagger from final season and added former first-round draft decide Jerry Jeudy to a receiving corps headlined by seven-time Professional Bowler Amari Cooper.
In contrast to Watson, Jeudy hasn’t practiced a lot in the course of the preseason. Consistent with the Browns’ obvious strategy to their quarterback, although, he believes {that a} swap, a subsequent stage, or no matter you wish to name it may be activated as soon as the season begins.
“A baller’s a baller,” Jeudy mentioned this week. “In case you’re a soccer participant, it don’t matter—Week 1, preseason, no preseason, Week 5. In case you’re a baller, you’re gonna go on the market and ball, it doesn’t matter what.”
Is Watson a baller? The Browns certainly thought so after they included three first-round draft picks as a part of the haul to amass him.
His alternatives to ball the previous two seasons have been restricted. Watson is aware of he should carry out much better when the following likelihood comes subsequent month.
