The Cleveland Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski has announced that quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play in the second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. This comes after he did not play in Saturday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers as well.
This is not unusual practice during the week of joint practices with another team as those practices tend to be more meaningful and physical than a preseason game. Stefanski also added that Watson would see the bulk of the reps against the Vikings in joint practices this upcoming week.
But it is worth asking the question: will we see Watson at all during the preseason?
While they have a bigger battle between Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Tyler Huntley for a likely roster spot, and there is a need to get Jameis Winston ready due to their quarterback situation one year ago, there is also a need for Watson to at least see one or two series of live bullets.
The last opportunity for Watson to do so before the Cowboys arrive in Cleveland in Week 1 would be on August 24th when the Browns travel all the way out west for their final preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Will we see Stefanski and his Browns play their starters, even if it is just for a brief moment?