Deshaun Watson Shoulder Injury
Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has been ruled out for the season after suffering a fracture in his right shoulder. He will be getting surgery on it in the near future.
Deshaun Watson will undergo season-ending surgery on a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. pic.twitter.com/W79ku2xzND
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 15, 2023
Watson had been struggling to stay on the field this year, as he missed 5 weeks of play so far this year. The Browns have had 3 different starters this season.
Watson's Replacements
After Watson’s original injury, the Browns started rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson but then turned to PJ Walker after one week. Walker then proceeded to play the majority of snaps in 3 games.
In those games, Walker threw for 618 yards and only 1 touchdown, while throwing 5 interceptions. He also completed less than 50% of his passes.
These stats are well below average, which may be the reason the Browns are starting Thompson-Robinson on Sunday against the Steelers.
Thompson-Robinson struggled in his first game against the Ravens, throwing 3 interceptions and only 121 in a blowout loss. He will need to bounce back if Cleveland wants to take down their division foe.
What's Next For Cleveland?
The Browns are still very much alive in the playoff race, as their defense has carried them throughout the season and will have to continue to do so. The question for the Browns is: Can the backup quarterbacks get it done?
It has not looked very promising thus far, as five of their six wins have come from Watson starting. However, the Browns have won four of their last five games and are carrying a lot of confidence with them, so that might help the young quarterback on the field. The Browns will need to have a good run game, with Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt doing the majority of the work.
Amari Cooper, who is having a good season, will have to continue his trends and help the rookie find his way through. David Njoku will also need to keep playing well, as he is second in yards and third in targets on the team.
Summary
The Browns currently sit at 6-3 and are third in the AFC North. Navigating to the playoffs will be very difficult for them, especially with the North being as good as they have been. Cleveland's defense, however, is good enough to help them get over the hunt and claim a potential playoff berth. Winning on Sunday against the Steelers will be a big start, especially since the Steelers currently sit in second in the division.
