With a fully guaranteed contract, Deshaun Watson may question the motivation to take the field, even when he’s not at full health.
Dealing with a shoulder injury, Watson has faced doubts about his eagerness to play.
After sitting out for two games, the quarterback left the Week 7 game against the Indianapolis Colts prematurely and didn’t make a return. Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Watson would be unavailable for the upcoming Sunday game, designating P.J. Walker as the starter against the Seattle Seahawks.
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During a press conference on Thursday, Watson expressed frustration at the suggestion that he’s choosing not to play due to a lack of desire.
“Why would I not want to play? I just worked my ass off for two years to get back. … I see all the narratives … all that stuff is just trying to cause controversy and commotion,” Watson said, via 92.3 The Fan. “I’m fine. I’m happy.”
Last Sunday, Watson left the game after throwing an interception on his fifth pass in the first quarter. He underwent evaluation for a possible concussion but was cleared from the protocol.
Stefanski, in the aftermath of the 39-38 victory, explained that he opted to keep Watson out as a precautionary measure.
“I just did not want to put him back out there. I wanted to protect our franchise quarterback. That was my decision,” Kevin Stefanski said.
It seems that the shoulder issue remained the primary factor behind Watson’s brief return. Despite his initial belief, the 28-year-old clarified that he didn’t feel prepared to play.
“I just didn’t have the strength, and things like that, to go out there and play a complete game,” Watson said Thursday, via NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano.
Watson has not completed an entire game since guiding Cleveland to a 27-3 victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. His quarterback rating stands at 79.8 across 10 games for the Browns, spanning back to the previous season.
The quarterback is currently managing a strained rotator cuff, a condition usually necessitating a recovery period of four to six weeks. This Sunday will mark the fifth week since the injury occurred.
Watson remains under close scrutiny due to prior misconduct allegations during his tenure in Houston.
