INDIANAPOLIS — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson returned to game action Sunday after four weeks off dealing with a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, he was sidelined again in the first quarter of the game against the Colts.
Watson got off to a rough start Sunday in the first quarter, completing just one of his five passes with five yards and an interception. The offense was able to generate some points thanks to a massive 69-yard rush in the opening drive from Jerome Ford, but Watson struggled in his passing early.
On 3rd-and-4, Watson sent a pass intended for Elijah Moore that was off-target and nearly intercepted by Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II. Moore, thankfully for the Browns, was unable to maintain possession, and the pass was ruled incomplete.
However, on the play, Watson was pushed and fell to the field. His head appeared to snap back, and after remaining down on the field for some time, he was taken into the medical tent for evaluation.
Following an impressive punt by Corey Bojorquez, the Browns defense stepped up, with Myles Garrett forcing a fumble and giving the Browns offense the ball back.
P.J. Walker, who was named the backup for Sunday's game, took over at quarterback with Watson sidelined. That offensive drive was successful, as the Browns drove down the field in six plays, including an explosive double-pitch that saw Marquise Goodwin gain 17 yards. A direct snap to Kareem Hunt saw the running back push up the middle for the touchdown.
Watson left the medical tent after being evaluated for a concussion and was cleared, but stood on the sideline for the remainder of the game.
Watson was never ruled out because had Walker been injured and unable to play, Watson was physically able enough to go back out and play in an emergency situation, as there was no other active quarterback in the game, with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the inactive list submitted prior to kickoff.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that he made the call to keep Watson out in order to protect his shoulder.
"My job to make tough decisions. I just felt like I wanted to protect him. I did not want to see him get hit, he was hit hard and I know he cleared all that, but I just—I got to protect him," Stefanski said.
Watson felt as though he was hit on the throwing shoulder when he fell to the ground. He believed being sidelined was the right "medical decision" and that it felt best to keep Walker in the game so his shoulder didn't hinder the team in the game.
Following the game, Watson didn't believe it was fair to characterize his few series against the Colts as a "slow start," and said the sample size of his day was too small to measure because it was only five throws.
"I mean, it was only five passes. One was a screen, a deep ball that got picked off, another one was a check-down, then another one I got hit. So if you want to consider that a slow start, then go ahead. It's four quarters. So I don't think anyone takes two or three series and make that a slow start. You got to play 60 minutes," Watson said.
Still, with the stat line he put up before exited the game, there's a lot left to see from Watson and how he responds to Sunday's outing and the rotator cuff contusion and strain moving forward.
Stefanski expects Watson to bounce back and be ready this week.
"He's our starter moving forward. He's our starter in Seattle. It's always going to be my decision to protect our players," Stefanski said.
Watson, when asked if he'll be starting next week in Seattle, wasn't as definitive.
"I'm not sure, we'll see," he said.
