RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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BEREA ― Deshaun Watson's wait to start a regular-season game as an NFL quarterback will hit 693 day on Sept. 13. It's not expected to climb any higher than that, however.
Watson on Aug. 24 was officially named the Browns' starting quarterback for the season opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13. That game will mark the first regular-season appearance for him since he tore his Achiiles tendon against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 24 2024.
"Like I mentioned before, this is what I’ve been working for two years is to be able to show that I’m capable of being a starter for one of the 32 organizations in this league," Watson said. "Today was excitement, I had no idea until I walked into the building and I talked with Coach Monk (Browns coach Todd Monken). … There’s going to be a lot of ups and downs, but at the same time, I’m excited to be a starting quarterback in this league, especially a starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns .”
The decision wasn't one without some controversy. There wwre plenty who felt like second-year pro Shedeur Sanders was the better player on the field more consistently over the course of the first three-plus weeks of camp.
Each quarterback got a chance to start one of the first two preseason games, with Watson starting the opener at the Chicago Bears. While Sanders' looked significantly better than Watson in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, that wasn't enough to overcome a gap built up over months.
“Took in the full body of work over the course of offseason, to training camp, to the games, the joint practice, and ultimately felt like to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points," Monken said. "I mean, that’s really what it’s about. And felt that way going into the last game but wasn’t sure. And after we talked as a staff and after we relooked at everything, we’re going to go in that direction.”
After that Bills game, though, Watson faced immense backlash for words he directed towards the segment of fans who booed him when he came on in the third quarter. He noted it was the same fan base which had some of its members cheering while he was on the ground injured, which is why he labeled it "personal" instead of just about "performance."
However, Watson won't see that fan base again for nearly a month, since the Browns spend the first two weeks on the road at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. That two weeks to potentially build up some confidence and momentum.
“I think it’d be a big, huge benefit, not just for me, but the team," Watson said. "Coming back home with a chance …right now, we’re oh-and-oh, so we’ve got to think positive and be 2-0. Coming back home against Carolina and getting a big victory, then having a Thursday night game against a rival (Pittsburgh Steelers) at home. That’d be very huge, so I think it’ll be beneficial for all of us.”
That's looking way down the road for both a team and a quarterback with very little track record of success, at least together. Watson's played just 19 games since being acquired from the Houston Texans in 2022, with an 11-game suspension in 2022, a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 and the Achillies tear in 2024.
Watson's on-field performance hasn't been great in Cleveland, either. He's won nine of 19 starts, completing 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 70 sacks and an 80.7 passer rating.
Watson's going through his first extended work since that latest injury, as he only practiced for three weeks last Decwmber before they elexcted to keep him on injured reserve. That alone, he believes, has paid dividends to shake some of the rust off.
“Oh, yeah, I think I’m getting better," Watson said. "I think mentally I’ve been getting better. There’s a lot of things, too, that me and Monk talked personally that we haven’t showcased. We haven’t showcased my full talent and ability to run in this offense, being able to run and being able to use my athletic ability, getting outside the pocket, being able to do some other QB-driven stuff. So, I’m excited to see what we can cook up getting ready for Week 1.”
The decision coming at this point gives the Browns three full weeks to bring the No 1 offensive group more in line together. The two quarterbacks had been splitting the reps through alternating days with the No. 1s up until this point.
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All of those reps now will go to Watson, as they did with Monday's practice. That should allow for some acceleration of the growth as the work goes exclusively to that collection of players, all of whom now are just hearing one voice in the huddle and at the line, while catching the ball from one arm.
“Yeah, I think we’ve just got to spend as much time as we possibly can, Watson aid. ".We’ve got about three weeks, so as much time in the film room, on the field, even off the field building that chemistry, that relationship, that bond, hanging out at the house, hanging out at restaurants, going out to different spots and just building as much chemistry and bond and relationship that we can, to make sure when we step on the field that we know each other in and out. Just trying to maximize the time we do have is definitely important.”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Deshaun Watson recognizes 'ups and downs' ahead, 'excited' for Browns job
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