Deshaun Watson rejects speculation he doesn’t want to play through shoulder injury and wants out of Cleveland
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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 …
Deshaun Watson said he’s not sure the fall he took in the Indianapolis game worsened his strained rotator cuff injury.
He’s not sure if the injury will linger all season.
He’s not sure when he’ll play again.
What he’s sure about is that, contrary to a sentiment gaining steam nationally, he does want to play, he’s not sitting on his guaranteed contract, and he is not unhappy with his decision to play in Cleveland. He said he is not in a bad head space over the way this season is going for him.
On Wednesday, Watson was shut down by coach Kevin Stefanski from practicing this week or even thinking about playing Sunday in Seattle. On Thursday, the quarterback made himself available at the locker room podium to respond to the continuous questions arising from his shoulder injury, now in its fifth week.
He was asked to address the perception that he is milking the injury because he simply doesn’t want to play.
“Why wouldn’t I want to play?” Watson said. “I just worked my ass off for two years to get back to playing. So why wouldn’t I want to play? This is what I’ve been doing since I was six years old. So why wouldn’t I want to play?
“I see the same things. I see all the narratives. This, that, the third. I mean, all that stuff is just trying to cause controversy and commotion.
“I’m fine. I’m happy. I’m not happy with the injury, but I’m in a great space mentally. I’m in a great space spiritually. Physically, everything else is in a great space except my shoulder. So we’re working hard to get that back.
“But, yeah, why wouldn’t I want to play? I don’t do this for no other reason, so yeah, I see that, too. I see the whole contract situation and all that stuff. Yeah, that stuff is just for people to talk, and it’s [to] create narratives.”
The latest narrative is that a “bad vibe” exists between Watson and the Browns, one that might cause a separation before his record-shattering $230 million contract expires in 2026. The narrative, espoused by ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio and, to some degree, by Rich Eisen of NFL Media, is that Watson may ask out of Cleveland like he did in Houston prior to the 2021 season.
“Why would I do that?” Watson said. “I mean, none of those national people know me. They don’t talk to me. Why would anybody listen to any of that stuff? All that speculation, if it ain’t coming from me, then all the other sh*t is bullsh*t.”
Cost of doing business
Jim Schwartz’s “attack” defense has one inherent occupational hazard – jumping offsides.
According to data on NFLpenalties.com, the Browns are 29th in the league with seven pre-snap defensive penalties, either offsides or neutral zone infractions. The Colts have nine, and the Texans and Broncos have eight. The Browns had five others declined because opposing offenses made good gains while continuing the play.
Schwartz isn’t happy with either figure, but it’s the continuation plays that bother him the most. One occurred in Indianapolis when the defense seemed to stop for a beat when Myles Garrett jumped offsides. It resulted in the Colts’ first touchdown, a 59-yard catch-and-run by receiver Josh Downs.
“Our message is we don’t necessarily need to try to get back [onside], just go shut the play down, just keep on going and shut the play down so that we don’t put our corners in that position to have to go play those balls where the offense has license,” Schwartz said.
“So, we’re a get-off team, we’re an attack team. There’s a bit of cost of doing business with that, with offside. We don’t want to be offsides in critical situations like backed up or third down and short or two-minute and things like that. But there’s going to be some times where we’re going to be offsides, but we can’t allow them to turn. They need to be five-yard plays, not 55- or 80-yard plays or whatever we’ve given up.
“That’s definitely something that’s on our radar and something that we need to address and improve.”
According to NFLpenalties.com, Garrett has two offsides penalties plus four declined, Ogbo Okoronkwo has one plus one declined and Z’Darius Smith has one declined.Neutral zone infractions are called when a defensive player jumps before the snap and causes an offensive lineman to false start. Jordan Elliott, Smith and Tony Fields have one apiece.
Yes, Myles Garrett is earning deserved kudos for his play. But what about that foliage surrounding the Browns' practice fields? (Cleveland Browns)
Some love for Wills
Jedrick Wills missed practice with foot and ankle injuries. His status will be updated on Friday. The left tackle’s durability is an attribute the coaches love – he’s missed five games in three-plus seasons. But the much-maligned 2020 first-round pick is receiving some extra love lately, particularly from the last two victories over the 49ers and Colts.
“Yeah, he’s come out with a lot of energy. He’s playing hard,” said guard Joel Bitonio. “You see some excitement, like, he’s one of the first ones down there on that long touchdown run [by Jerome Ford] and making plays, trying to finish his blocks. I think he’s just trying to take a step in his game and be that energy.
“Especially when I was out [with a knee injury], I think he was like, all right, I can step up a little bit and help this team. And he’s done a really good job. He’s really focused on just trying to be the best version of himself and play through the whistle. But it’s been good last couple weeks, and we’re hoping to keep building on that.”
Brownie bits
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone likes to loosen up his ‘teams by showing amusing videos of his players. They could be from their high school days or from college. The night before P.J. Walker made his first start at quarterback for the Browns against the 49ers, Ventrone played video of Walker returning kicks at a Colts practice when both were with Indianapolis. “He was my scout team kick returner,” Ventrone said. “I knew him as Phil. I never called him P.J. Guys were shocked that he was actually, like, the kick returner.” …
Wills (foot and ankle) was added to the injury list and did not practice. Also out besides Watson were running back Jerome Ford (ankle), linebacker Sione Takitaki (hamstring), and receiver Marquise Goodwin (back) …
Running back Kareem Hunt (thigh) returned to practice. So did tight end David Njoku (knee).
