Deshaun Watson was under siege by Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys defense on Sunday. He also had non-football things on his mind, like deaths of two persons close to him, and perhaps knowledge of another civil lawsuit filed against him on Monday. (Cleveland Browns)
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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.
Second thoughts on Browns’ 33-17 loss to Dallas Cowboys …
1. After an inauspicious season debut on Sunday, Deshaun Watson volunteered the news that he carried an emotional toll into the game. He said his estranged father died on Friday and a friend and former Clemson teammate was shot and killed on Saturday. Turns out, there was more. On Monday, a new civil lawsuit was filed in Houston accusing Watson of sexual assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The accusations stem from a date with the plaintiff on October 10, 2020. The plaintiff is represented by Tony Buzbee, who was the lawyer for most of 24 licensed massage therapists who filed civil lawsuits against Watson in the summer of 2022. All but one of those lawsuits were settled under undisclosed terms. As a result, Watson agreed to a disciplinary settlement with the NFL which called for him to miss 11 games, pay a $5 million fine, and undergo evaluation and treatment. Could this new lawsuit be subject to new discipline from the league under the personal conduct policy? Could it violate his Browns’ contract? The NFL has declined comment. A Browns spokesman replied in a text that the team has no comment at this time.
2. Watson’s 51.1 passer rating against Dallas was the second-worst he has compiled in his 13 starts for the Browns, excluding the one quarter he played in the Indianapolis game last year. His worst rating was 47.1 in a 17-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Eve, 2022, in minus-14 degrees wind chill. Watson’s passer rating in his first appearance for the Browns in 2022, after a 700-day absence, against his former team in Houston, was 53.4.
3. Watson received no support from his offensive teammates against the Cowboys, of course. The Browns’ kept going backwards because of these miscues in the first half: 1. James Hudson ineligible player downfield penalty, 2. David Njoku slip and fall after a short catch, 3. Dawand Jones false start, 4. Jones false start, 5. Njoku dropped pass, 6. Elijah Moore trapped pass, 7. Cedric Tillman holding penalty, 8. Njoku holding penalty, 9. Jerry Jeudy dropped pass after had hit by safety Donovan Wilson. The second half then started with a Jones illegal formation penalty and a 60-yard punt return by KaVontae Turpin that made the score 27-3, Dallas. Watson’s best throw came with 3:40 left in the game when he released the ball with 341-pound defensive tackle Jordan Phillips beating Joel Bitonio off the snap and clobbering Watson directly in the No. 4 on his chest. Amari Cooper beat safety Israel Mukuamu with a double move but allowed the ball to slip through his hands as he was approaching the goal line. Cooper said, “I make that catch 9 out of 10 times.” Cooper had 2 receptions on 9 targets for 16 yards. The 22% catch rate was Cooper’s second-worst in 33 games with the Browns.
4. The Browns reportedly added 2021 Giants first-round pick and former Chiefs receiver Kadarius Toney to their practice squad. The team has not confirmed the move. GM Andrew Berry figures to add a tight end this week, also, because Njoku suffered an ankle injury that coach Kevin Stefanski termed “week to week.” Stefanski declined to confirm reports that Njoku’s injury is the dreaded high ankle variety, which usually is a 4-to-6 week injury. Jordan Akins is the only other tight end on the active roster. The Browns have two young tight ends on their practice squad – Cameron Latu and Blake Whiteheart – but probably will seek to add a tight end with some experience in their system. Stefanski also used “week to week” to describe injuries to defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (ankle), linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (hip) and linebacker Tony Fields (ankle).
5. If you’re seeking something positive to come from the loss to the Cowboys it is this: Losing to an NFC opponent is preferable to losing to an AFC opponent (as did Cincinnati and Baltimore) because of the NFL playoff tie-breaker system. Records in AFC games is a key tie-breaker when sorting out the wild-card candidates. Further, the immediate Browns’ schedule would seem to accommodate Watson, who has said he historically has slow starts to each season. Four of the Browns’ first six games are against NFC opponents – Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Washington and Philadelphia. That should give Watson ample time to shake off the rust.