AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was unable to return to Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts after the first quarter, but that will not affect his status for next week.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters after Sunday’s exciting 39-38 victory that Watson will get the start under center against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8.
Stefanski added that Watson wasn’t reinserted into Sunday’s game in order to “protect” him. Watson, who had missed the previous two games with a rotator cuff strain in his throwing shoulder, was shaken up after taking a hit from Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, but he cleared concussion protocol. While he didn’t re-injure his shoulder, Stefanski felt the need to be cautious.
“I just did not want to put him back out there,” Stefanski said. “I wanted to protect our franchise quarterback. That was my decision.”
However, Watson said after the game that he was unsure about whether his shoulder was damaged further and he would undergo further evaluation on Monday.
“I’m praying it’s not anything worse,” he said. “That’s all I can do right now.”
Before exiting the game, Watson completed just one of his five passes for five yards with an interception. He was replaced by veteran backup P.J. Walker, who threw for 178 yards and an interception on 15-of-32 passing but managed to lead Cleveland’s game-winning 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Kareem Hunt with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Despite his uncertainty about his shoulder injury, Watson said he was still hoping to return to Sunday’s game.
“Of course. I want to compete, I’m a competitor,” Watson said. “I want to go out there to help the team as much as possible and go out there and play and perform and compete. The decision was best for the team and they felt that was the best and P.J. did a great job of finishing the game.”
The win moved the Browns to 4-2, good for second place in the AFC North. If Watson is able to remain healthy going forward, Cleveland will have a solid chance at competing for a division title this season thanks to the team’s stout defense, which forced four turnovers on Sunday against Indianapolis.
Watson and the Browns will be looking for a similar performance when they take on the Seahawks.
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