Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is set to miss a second straight game Sunday after suffering a shoulder injury in Cleveland’s Week 3 win.
Here’s the latest on Watson ahead of the Browns’ clash with the San Francisco 49ers.
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Deshaun Watson Injury Update
Watson injured his shoulder on a third-quarter run during Cleveland’s 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. He finished the contest 27-of-33 for 289 yards and two touchdowns, alongside 16 rushing yards on four carries.
Watson has not played since then, missing a 28-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 before the Browns’ bye last week.
The standout signal-caller has not had a full practice since Sept. 22, two days before the Tennessee game. He briefly threw ahead of the Baltimore game before ultimately being ruled out in a somewhat surprising decision.
Watson missed every practice this week and was ruled out on Friday for Sunday’s game against the 49ers despite Browns coach Kevin Stefanski previously saying he expected Watson to be ready for the contest.
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He also said after the Ravens game that Watson has been medically cleared to play and commented this week that it’s more about his ability to do his job effectively.
“Any injury … you have to be able to do your job, you have to be able to function and do all the things that are asked of you to play your position,” Stefanski said this week. “A quarterback, when you have this type of injury, you have to make sure you’re able to drive the football, make all the throws.”
Through three starts this season, Watson has completed 65 of 102 passes for 678 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, along with running 15 times for 83 yards and one score.
With Watson unable to go, P.J. Walker is set to start on Sunday after being named the team’s backup behind Watson earlier in the week.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson made the start in Cleveland’s loss to the Ravens on Oct. 1, going 19-of-36 for 121 yards and three interceptions on the day.
Now, it’s Walker’s turn. The fourth-year NFL quarterback last played in Week 10 of the 2022 season for the Carolina Panthers, his fifth start and sixth appearance of the year. Walker finished the year 63-of-106 for 731 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Walker will look to lead the Browns (2-2) against the unbeaten 49ers (5-0) on Sunday in his first appearance of 2023.