Kevin Stefanski’s endless quarterback drama extends another week
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
Fifteen days after suffering a contusion to his right shoulder on a direct hit after a running play in the Tennessee game, Deshaun Watson still is not practicing with his team.
The Browns returned to the practice field following their bye week with their quarterback staying inside the fieldhouse working with trainers. Whether Watson is throwing is a mystery.
“Just part of his rehab. Still working through everything,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s doing everything in his power, working around the clock with rehab. So, he’s just doing what he’s being told to do in terms of his rehab process.”
And so, Watson’s status for Sunday’s home game against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers is uncertain.
Unlike the week of the Baltimore game, when Stefanski expected Watson to play after not throwing the entire practice week, Stefanski declined to speculate or characterize his expections for Sunday’s game.
“I’m not going to get into specifics about Sunday. I know it’s a broken record, but really just treat it day-by-day,” he said.
Pressed if he was optimistic about Watson’s chances, Stefanski said, “Yeah, I’m going to just stay the day-to-day. I don’t want to get too far into the week. I would tell you he’s working very, very hard. He’s doing everything that he’s asked to do and getting better.”
Deshaun Watson was missing from the practice field when the Browns returned from their bye week on Monday. He worked with trainers inside the fieldhouse. (TheLandOnDemand)
The coach is understandably weary of the never-ending drama surrounding his quarterback position.
The last three years, Stefanski has had to: referee a team-dividing feud between Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield; navigate a left shoulder injury to Mayfield and a falling-out with him that led to a request to be traded; sign off on a controversial trade for Watson amid 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse filed by female licensed massage therapists; and prepare one offense for replacement quarterback Jacoby Brissett and another for Watson following an 11-game NFL suspension.
With Watson’s legal troubles seemingly behind him, Stefanski and coordinator Alex Van Pelt spent months in a football laboratory with Watson to tailor the Browns’ offense to the $230 million quarterback’s desires. The results were not good, until Watson broke out with a 289-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 27-3 rout of Tennessee.
And now this.
Communication and messaging breakdowns throughout Watson’s injury have contributed to confusion about exactly what is going on.
After Watson was a late scratch for the Baltimore game – a desultory, 28-3 loss to the rival Ravens – Stefanski said that Watson was medically cleared to play but opted out because “he just did not feel like he had his full faculties.” Stefanski said there was no structural damage to Watson’s shoulder. Two days later, GM Andrew Berry said that Watson could not lift his right arm early in the practice week and simply could not throw the ball with regular force.
So Watson has not been able to throw a football for two weeks.
On Monday, Stefanski said, “I think the piece there that’s important is medically cleared versus functionally able to do your job. And I think that’s what with all of our guys, when you’re working through an injury, you need to be able to functionally perform and that’s what Deshaun’s working very hard in his rehab to be able to get back to 100 percent.”
Next Man Up?
Stefanski would not say whether rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson would be the replacement for Watson, if needed, or if the team would ready the more experienced QB3, P.J. Walker, for the 49ers game. DTR’s emergency start against Baltimore was deflating – 19 of 36 for 121 yards, four sacks, three interceptions and a 25.3 passer rating.
In the brief practice period open to media, DTR took the first snaps. But real game preparation for the 49ers doesn’t begin until Wednesday. The game plan is written on Tuesday.
Asked if DTR would get the start if Watson can’t play, Stefanski said, “You know, the guys did a nice job with practice today, but we’re not going towards Sunday just yet. But DTR, like we talked about, [is a] young player getting better.”
Walker has a 4-3 career record in starts with the Carolina Panthers. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad on August 30 after the team traded projected QB2 Josh Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals.
I asked Stefanski if Walker has been able to catch up to the Browns’ offensive system in six weeks with the team.
“Yeah, I think he’s caught up,” Stefanski said. “He’s a veteran. He’s been in multiple systems, so he’s caught up ... Obviously, it’s not the same as when you’re here all spring and all summer, but he’s a vet, so he’s doing a nice job.”
Brownie bits
Joining Watson in working with trainers inside the fieldhouse were tight end David Njoku (burns to face and hands), center Ethan Pocic (chest and knee) and left guard Joel Bitonio (ankle) …
Defensive end Myles Garrett, who left the night of the Baltimore game with a boot on his left foot, was back at practice …
Linebacker and special teams core player Jordan Kunaszyk, who suffered an MCL injury in the preseason finale in Kansas City, is eligible to return from injured reserve. “I’m not sure about this week,” Stefanski said. “He’s getting really close. Another guy that’s working very hard, but we’ll see how the rest of this week goes.”
