Are the Cleveland Browns in hot water at the quarterback position this fall?
The Athletic’s Zac Jackson published an eye-opening report on the team’s recent joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles and keyed in on quarterback Deshaun Watson’s performance in particular.
After trading for Watson in 2022 amid 20-plus troubling allegations of sexual misconduct or assault, the Browns haven’t gotten much return on the colossal investment thus far after Watson served an 11-game suspension last fall.
Watson had already been reportedly intercepted by Eagles safety Reed Blankenship three times in two days.
However, Jackson described the team’s passing game in his reporting as “completely unimpressive” and added that anything involving Watson remaining in the pocket “has been an adventure.”
From @AkronJackson at The Athletic: pic.twitter.com/ZMStnomBue
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) August 17, 2023
Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94 WIP also commented on Watson’s recent practice reps, which the quarterback actually responded to as being untrue in a tweet.
Deshaun Watson Training Camp Stats vs Eagles defense:
The Eagles defense definitely got the better of Watson during the joint practices
Watson had a few really nice throws at times, beating good coverage with better throws. His arm definitely has the ability to make special… pic.twitter.com/sv5RjUM3eJ
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 16, 2023
Lol 🧢 https://t.co/HRSPblMAw8
— Deshaun Watson (@deshaunwatson) August 16, 2023
Watson hasn’t played a full NFL season since 2020 with the Houston Texans, having sat out the entirety of 2021 and been suspended for 11 games in 2022.
If Watson can’t return to the caliber of player he was in his Houston heyday, the Browns could be in a lot of trouble.
After dealing three first-round picks to the Texans and signing Watson to a record-breaking contract with $230 million guaranteed, a regressing Watson would spell catastrophe for Cleveland.