Deshaun Watson ‘ready to roll’ for season opener despite not playing

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

SEATTLE, WA

Post-game takeaways from Browns’ 37-33 loss to Seattle Seahawks …

1. Ready to roll: Despite not giving him a taste of preseason action, Kevin Stefanski said he’s excited to see the fruits of Deshaun Watson's labor in recovering from shoulder surgery in November and training in the Browns’ new offense. “He’ll be ready to roll Week 1,” the coach declared. Stefanski said Watson wanted to play in Seattle, but with fifth-string left tackle Germain Ifedi filling in for four injured tackles, and other starters such as Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku getting the night off, it was decided Watson should stay out, too. “General arm soreness” wasn’t an issue. “He’s good. I feel great [about Watson’s throwing],” Stefanski said. “With considerations to the guys who were out on offense – not just the offensive line – just didn’t feel it was best to put him out there in this setting. Very, very confident in the amount of work he’s gotten to date, throughout the spring and summer. Coming off the surgery, he’s pushed through, practiced well. I’m excited for him.”

2. Reinforcements coming: Stefanski’s upbeat mood also reflected confidence that the team will get some key players off the PUP and NFI lists, including tackles Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin. Others on the lists are running back Nick Chubb, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, running back Nyheim Hines, cornerback Greg Newsome and safety D’Anthony Bell. Of those seven, Chubb might be the only one to begin the season on reserve/PUP and be forced to miss a minimum of four games. Those decisions will come down at Tuesday’s roster cut to 53. “I feel good about getting some guys back next week and going into Week 1,” Stefanski said.

3. DTR’s pocket presence: One of the biggest improvements Dorian Thompson-Robinson made in his second preseason was staying in the pocket rather than tucking the ball and running with it if his first read wasn't open. DTR burst on the scene last summer by making plays on the run – 69 yards on 15 attempts in four games. In three games this preseason, DTR threw better and ran less – only 1 time for 2 yards. I asked him why that was important to him and who trained him off running too much. “I think just watching Joe – Joe Flacco -- a lot last year,” he said. “Watching how he operated the offense. [He] just took what the defense gave him, wasn’t trying to make any splash plays and just took advantage of opportunities when they were given. So, just kind of sitting back and watching that, I think I learned a lot.” DTR should be named QB3 based on his tenure with the team and the fact it was his job to lose, and he didn’t lose it.

4. Snoop delivers: Tyler “Snoop” Huntley made the QB3 decision closer with a 17-of-22, 146-yard, 3-TD night in the second half against Seattle's deep reserves. His rating was 133.7. Huntley was pleased to get some good game on tape, which, he and the Browns hope, arouse some interest if the Browns don’t retain him. “We’ll see,” he said of his future. “I just want to play football. Wherever I play football, that’s where I’ll be.” Stefanski has a say-so in the decision, of course, but ultimately it rests with GM Andrew Berry. “Snoop’s played a lot of good football for us, a lot of good football in his career,” Stefanski said. “He’s a playmaker. It was on display tonight. When things aren’t there, he finds a way to make plays. I thought he did a real nice job.” Huntley’s final preseason numbers: 37 of 51 for 322 yards, 3 TD, 2 interceptions, and a 92.1 rating. “That’s my guy now,” DTR said. “We built a great relationship. He’s someone who’s been in my corner since the jump.”

5. Thrash the flash: Rookie receiver Jamari Thrash made an emphatic run at a roster spot, finishing as the team’s leading receiver in the preseason with 10 catches for 141 yards and 1 TD. The touchdown came from DTR on a 46-yard connection, on which Thrash's double move sprung him behind the Seattle safety. “I did a double move, ran it off to the corner, and saw the safety bite down, so I knew the ball was coming to me,” he said. “DTR did a good job of putting the ball where it needed to be.” Thrash was a fifth-round pick from Georgia State and Louisville. And though Berry historically keeps most, if not all, of his drafted rookies on the 53, Thrash really earned it. “I feel [my first training camp] was decent,” Thrash said. “I’m still progressing. Still got a lot of room to grow.” He and DTR forged a connection on the field and off. “Smart player,” DTR said. “That’s one of the reasons why we drafted him. I think he’s done a tremendous job. Whatever he’s been asked to do, he’s done. However much information we’ve put on his plate, he’s retained. And then he goes out and executes. He has great hands and he makes it very easy to get him the ball.”

6. Work through Labor Day: The Browns have four practices before they get a CBA-protected Labor Day Weekend off. The latter two will be closed to media. Stefanski said, “You use all these days to your advantage. Next week is a big part of it. Those four days before that break over Labor Day I think are real important. We’ll cover a lot of ground, situational football, getting guys up to speed. So we have a lot of work to do next week before Labor Day.”

7. Injuries: Stefanski didn’t have injury updates immediately after the game. Cornerback Justin Hardee and safety Chase Williams had concussions, and running back D’Onta Foreman suffered a rib injury. Given that Pierre Strong (rib contusion) and Chubb are down right now, it’s possible the Browns could bring in another back. But they might get Hines back, too. Also, Stefanski had no update on cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion protocol).