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P.J. Walker will start for Browns against 49ers after Deshaun Watson ruled out
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- P.J. Walker will start for Browns against 49ers after Deshaun Watson ruled out
BEREA — Friday was no different than any other day this week for Browns quarterback P.J. Walker . The fact it was the day he was officially announced he would be starting for Deshaun Watson only altered things on the outside.
"That's how I've always approached going into these games on Sundays," Walker said Friday. "Whether one (on the depth chart), 2 or 3 for me, it's just always go out there and prepare like I'm going to play on Sunday because you just never know what may happen. Somebody could wake up sick on Saturday morning or Sunday morning and they can't go. So, for me it's just always be ready."
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Plenty were ready for the news Walker would be the starter when the Browns play host to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. That's because everything had been trending toward that after Watson missed the entire week's worth of practice as he continues to recover from the bruised rotator cuff in his right shoulder that has his return to the field as cloudy as ever.
Walker, along with receiver Jaelon Darden, was officially elevated from the practice squad to the gameday roster on Saturday. It's the second of three permissible elevations for Walker, although the team could choose to sign him to the active roster as well to avoid that scenario.
Watson sustained the injury during the Browns' Sept. 24 win over the Tennessee Titans . He was a game-time decision the following week against the Baltimore Ravens , ultimately being ruled out less than three hours before kickoff.
The Browns hoped the bye week would allow for it to heal enough that Watson could play against the undefeated 49ers. Instead, despite throwing inside the team facility as part of his rehab, it was determined he couldn't go.
Chicago Bears quarterback P.J. Walker (15) scrambles out of the pocket during a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 19 in Indianapolis.
"Trying to every day, treat it day-to-day," said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who declined to say if Watson's status for the Oct. 22 game at the Indianapolis Colts is in jeopardy. "Treat the injury, day to day. He's making progress. He's working very hard, but just wasn't ready to get to the level where he could practice and be effective just yet."
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That led the Browns to, instead of throwing rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson back out against the elite 49ers defense as they did against the Ravens, turn to Walker. The fourth-year pro who added to their practice squad following cutdown day on Aug. 29 after having spent all of training camp with the Chicago Bears .
Walker, prior to the time in Chicago, spent three seasons from 2020-22 with the Carolina Panthers . He appeared in 15 games during his time in Charlotte, including seven starts.
Five of those starts came a year ago for the Panthers starting in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams . In six total games last season, Walker was 63-of-106 passing (59.4%) for 731 yards with 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and 7 sacks.
"Last year was huge," Walker said. "Just me getting the opportunity to go out there and play five games and get those games under my belt, it felt good just to see guys rally around me and just to feel the energy and excitement of the guys around me. I don't go out there and play for myself. I go out there and play for every one of these guys in this room and in this building. That's all that matters at the end of the day."
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (right) watches backup QB P.J. Walker warm up before a game on Oct. 1.
Walker's first appearance last season for Carolina actually came a week prior to his first start, when he came into the game late in a 37-15 loss to the 49ers. Playing mostly San Francisco's backups, he went 5-of-6 for 60 yards and was sacked twice.
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The change was made to Walker after the Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule. While Walker was replacing Mayfield, Steve Wilks was replacing Rhule.
Wilks is now the defensive coordinator for the 49ers.
"I think he's very capable of running that offense," Wilks told Bay Area reporters Thursday. "He makes good decisions. He's good with the ball. He can win with his legs, a lot of what Deshaun can do. So when people say, 'Are they going to dummy down the offense?' I don't think so. I think he's more than capable of running that offense."
The difference between Walker's start in place of Watson and Thompson-Robinson's was all about timing. Watson was a limited participant in practice — almost exclusively handing the ball off during team drills — leading into the Ravens game, and the messaging right up until the morning of the game was that he would start.
Carolina Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker looks to pass during the second half at the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021.
However, after a brief workout on the field less than three hours before kickoff, Watson was ruled out against the Ravens. Thompson-Robinson went out in his first career start and completed 19-of-31 passes for 121 yards with 3 interceptions and 4 sacks.
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Watson didn't practice at all for the Browns this week off the bye. That allowed Walker, who was named the backup early in the week, to get all of the practice reps.
"Practicing limited was not a lot of throws," Stefanski said. "It was more from a handoff variety. So, as you guys know, not to rehash the week, but went through the week, felt like we could get to Sunday. But I think what the reminder is to all of us is you have to treat the injury. Not everything's the same. So based on how he's feeling, based on what he's able to do, is really that's guiding his rehab and guiding our decisions."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: P.J. Walker named starter vs. 49ers after Deshaun Watson ruled out
