Browns have to put the Deshaun Watson drama behind them and get Jacoby Brissett ready for the season

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

JACKSONVILLE, FL

Deshaun Watson’s long-anticipated preseason debut with the Browns could hardly have gone worse.

On the first play, Watson sailed a short pass over Anthony Schwartz’s head. On the second play, center Nick Harris suffered a knee injury while a ball zipped through Schwartz’s hands. On the fifth play, running back D’Ernest Johnson lost a fumble. There was a holding penalty on the sixth play, a false start on the eighth play, another drop by Schwartz on the ninth play, and, finally, a pass in the dirt intended for Demetric Felton on Watson’s last play.

Watson finished the night 1 of 5 passing for 7 yards.Watson achieved 7 yards in eight plays before departing as a cheerleader for replacement QB Josh Dobbs.

“It looked like preseason Game 1 to me at a bunch of moments,” said coach Kevin Stefanski. “I think it was important for [Watson] to get out there. It wasn’t going to be perfect, and even it was perfect you can’t over-react to that, either.”

What does it say about the state of things that QB3 Dobbs outplayed Watson by a wide margin?

Dobbs' decent performance will factor in whether the Browns make a pitch for available 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo. They don't seem too interested in him right now.

When Watson serves his suspension (which may be much longer than the six games originally expected), Jacoby Brissett will step in. Brissett was given the night off against the Jaguars and might not play in a game until the preseason finale against the Chicago Bears.

In the meantime, Dobbs was effective -- poised, mobile and accurate. Starting with the Browns’ fourth offensive possession, Dobbs settled down the reserve offense, made up a 13-0 deficit and led the Browns to a 24-13 victory over the young and still-unimpressive Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dobbs (10 of 13, 108 yards, one touchdown, 126.4 passer rating) got strong contributions from four rookie draft choices.

Running back Jerome Ford had 57 yards rushing and 45 receiving, and scored touchdowns running and catching. Cornerback M.J. Emerson wrestled an interception and returned it through traffic 74 yards for a touchdown. Rock star-kicker Cade York was perfect on two PATs and a 31-yard field goal. And defensive end Isaiah Thomas added two sacks.

There were other positives from some players down the depth chart who outshone the Jaguars’ backups.

But the lasting impression of this Browns preseason opener was that all the investment in Watson – three No. 1s and a $230 million guaranteed contract -- wasn’t nearly worth the legal trouble, morality conflict and polarization of the fan base. True, it was only three series. But what a letdown.

Watson made his first game appearance in 19 months because he didn’t play even in the preseason for the Houston Texans last year after demanding a trade. Stefanski thought Watson was nervous and rusty in his first game back.

Right up until the Browns departed its hotel for the stadium, there was anxiety that a ruling from appeals officer Peter C. Harvey could come down and disqualify Watson for the game. But a decision didn’t come. It appeared that the endless drama of Watson’s impending suspension and all his legal entanglements crashed down on him.

“I don’t think so. I don’t,” said Stefanski.

The Browns did not provide Watson in the interview room after the game.

Prior to the game, Watson gave a brief interview in the team hotel with Browns sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, Watson expressed remorse for the first time for the conduct that resulted in 24 civil lawsuits by female massage therapists – 23 have been settled – and a minimum six-game suspension. The NFL is appealing to have the suspension extended to a full season.

“I want to say that I’m truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation,” Watson said. “The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward.”

After the game, Stefanski was non-committal about playing Watson in the remaining two preseason games amid his imminent suspension. The coach indicated that Brissett,would be prominent in the joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles this week, but he probably would only play in the final preseason game.

So Dobbs should get more chances to prove he is worthy to serve as Brissett’s backup during Watson’s suspension.

Depending on the length of Watson’s suspension, the Browns could seek to acquire a more dependable and experienced quarterback to assist Brissett, such as San Francisco’s Jimmy Garroppolo. But they have shown no interest in Garroppolo and now the Jets may pursue Garroppolo after Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury on Friday night.

“I thought Josh did a really nice job there with that group,” Stefanski said. “[He] does a nice job in and out of the huddle. His athleticism really showed up. An impressive performance by Josh.”

Ford’s impressive debut was relevant in the context of Kareem Hunt’s desire to be traded.

Ford had chunk runs of 41 and 15 yards, plus an inside run of three yards for a TD. He was equally impressive in catching the ball. Ford leaped for Dobbs’ touch pass on a scramble left and secured the ball in the end zone after a juggle.

“It was great to show that I can catch the ball well and run the ball,” Ford said.

Emerson’s tremendous Pick 6, on which he wrestled away the ball from receiver Jeff Cotton thrown by backup QB C.J. Beathard, redeemed himself for getting beat for a 32-yard pass play to Zay Jones on starting QB Trevor Lawrence’s first play from scrimmage.

“It motivated me,” Emerson said.

Defensively, the Browns had three takeaways and five sacks. The offense was sloppy and the serious knee injury to Harris adds to the challenge ahead. He’ll have an MRI on Saturday to determine the damage.

With the Philadelphia Eagles coming to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for joint practices this week, and clarity coming soon on Watson’s availability, Stefanski and his coaching staff have to shift attention to readying Brissett for the season.

“We’re making mistakes. It’s sloppy. Now it’s my job and our job to get it cleaned up,” Stefanski said.