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Deshaun Watson shoulder injury: What to know about the Browns QB before playing vs. 49ers
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- Deshaun Watson shoulder injury: What to know about the Browns QB before playing vs. 49ers
BEREA — The injury that has become the most recent talk of the Browns season happened in as innocent a way as a football injury could occur.
However, more than two weeks since quarterback Deshaun Watson sustained what has been confirmed to be a rotator cuff contusion, the fallout from the injury has engulfed the Browns' season. Even after the team's bye week, questions remain about when Watson will be back on the field starting games for the team.
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Here is a timeline of when Watson was injured and how things developed from there:
Sept. 24: Deshaun Watson sustains a hit to right shoulder from Tennessee Titans ' Amani Hooker
Browns QB Deshaun Watson is tackled by Titans defensive tackle Teair Tart, right, during the second half Sept. 24 in Cleveland. Watson was hurt on this play when he was was originally hit by Titans safety Amani Hooker.
The injury occurred with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter of the Browns' 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans . On second-and-6 from the Tennessee 13, Watson took the snap and ran a quarterback keep to the left. Titans safety Amani Hooker delivered a blow to the shoulder while trying to tackle Watson, who gained 10 yards on the play.
Watson didn't leave the game, and was 7-of-8 passing for 93 yards and a touchdown after the hit. It was Watson's best game with the Browns , going 27-of-33 passing for 289 yards with two touchdowns and a 123.4 passer rating.
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Sept. 27: Deshaun Watson speaks to media, then doesn't throw at Browns practice
Watson spoke to the media before the Wednesday practice leading into the game against the Baltimore Ravens , as he does before every game.
There was no mention of the shoulder at all.
The first indication of a potential issue happened during the portion of Browns practice open to the media . During those 20 minutes or so, when the quarterbacks did some individual work before moving on to throwing to the tight ends and running backs, Watson never once threw a football. He essentially, during his reps, pantomimed the release of the ball after going through the rest of the process of whatever the drill may have been.
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Rookie backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson and practice squad quarterback P.J. Walker took the passing reps during the open portion of practice. Watson was listed as a limited practice participant on the Browns' injury report.
After practice, it was learned that it's a right shoulder contusion, although where in the shoulder is not specified.
Sept. 28: Deshaun Watson throws lightly, but Browns still expect him to play vs. Ravens
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was asked before practice about Watson's injury and said, "We'll see today, see how he feels when we get out there, but we're confident he'll be able to go Sunday. We'll see how he's feeling today when we get out."
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Asked later if, from what he's seen out of Watson, there was any way he didn't play against Baltimore, Van Pelt said, "I wouldn't expect that. No."
Watson did throw a few passes on the Thursday before the Ravens game. At least, that's what he did during the 20 minutes or so open to the media to observe. Those passes were either to a Browns staffer while warming up or to a running back on swing passes. None of the passes had much, if any, velocity on them.
Thompson-Robinson took the passing reps in team drills, as Watson was listed as a limited practice participant.
Sept. 29: Deshaun Watson says he's 'OK' and expects to play, despite being listed as questionable
The most confusing day of the week leading up to the Ravens game occurred on the Friday before the game. Watson made a couple of half-hearted throws — one to Zaire Mitchell-Paden and the other to Pierre Strong Jr. — during the portion of practice open to the media. However, he spent most of the time watching and talking with trainer Joe Sheehan.
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The Browns officially listed Watson, who was a limited practice participant again, as questionable for the Ravens game . Coach Kevin Stefanski said, when asked after practice if he expected Watson to play, "I'm hopeful." He also indicated Watson did "light throwing" during practice. During the time the locker room was open to the media, Watson said he was "OK" and that he expected to play when approached.
Oct. 1: Deshaun Watson ruled out vs. Ravens after brief pregame workout
Browns QB Deshaun Watson stands on the field before a game against the Ravens, Oct. 1, in Cleveland.
"Expected to play" turned into "won't play" after Watson went through about a 20-minute workout at Cleveland Browns Stadium roughly three hours before kickoff against the Ravens.
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After a few minutes of light jogging and stretching shortly after 10 a.m., Watson threw five 5-yard passes to a Browns staffer. He then stopped to talk with Sheehan. After the conversation with Sheehan, Watson threw five passes from 7 to 10 yards. He then spoke with Sheehan, followed by Stefanski, general manager Andrew Berry and Van Pelt. Watson got a pat on the back at one point before the group walked off the field and into the tunnel. He was ruled out shortly afterward.
Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson looks to throw the ball against the Ravens, Oct. 1, in Cleveland.
Thompson-Robinson had a disastrous first career start , as the rookie fifth-round pick out of UCLA was 19-of-33 passing for 121 yards with three interceptions and a 25.3 passer rating in a 28-3 Ravens win . After the game, Stefanski said there was no structural damage to Watson's shoulder. Several Browns players in the locker room after the game confirmed the decision to go with the rookie was made within three hours of kickoff.
Oct. 2: Kevin Stefanski says Deshaun Watson 'just did not feel like' he could play despite being 'medically cleared'
Stefanski's day-after Zoom call with the media was where more questions seemed to arise than be answered regarding the circumstances around the decision to not start Watson against the Ravens. The coach reiterated there was nothing structurally wrong with the shoulder. "I'm comfortable, just with the medical," Stefanski said. "I know Deshaun, obviously we talked with the doctors. We, structurally, feel good about it. He's going to use this week to rest and continue to get treatment. I feel like medically we're all on the same page."
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However, the decision, according to Stefanski, came down to Watson's call.
"He knows his body," Stefanski said. "He's played through serious pain before, very, very serious injuries. It wasn't a matter of pain tolerance. He just did not feel like he had his full faculties."
Watson did not speak to the media during the bye week.
Oct. 4: Andrew Berry expresses optimism injury will 'heal in the short term,' defends decision
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks with the media during an NFL football news conference at the team's practice facility in Berea, Ohio, Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Berry held his annual bye-week press conference last Wednesday. The first question he took was in regards to any concerns about Watson's injury impacting him going forward.
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"We don't view it as a long-term injury or, I think Kevin mentioned earlier in the week, there's nothing structural," Berry said. "We are optimistic that it'll heal in the short term and he'll be ready to go."
Berry also stood by the operation that led the team and Watson to decide to not start him against the Ravens.
"When we got out on Sunday and when we took him through the pregame workout, it became obvious to all of us that he couldn't throw or drive the ball well enough to perform in the game," Berry said. "It just wasn't at a level where we felt comfortable that he could ultimately perform the duties of his position. … This is your quarterback and his job is to throw the ball anywhere from 30 to 35 times a game and if he can't push it, if he can't drive it, if he can't throw it down the field, which became very evident early in the workout, it became a very easy decision for us not to put him out there."
Oct. 9: Deshaun Watson not on practice field upon return from bye week
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski talks with quarterback Deshaun Watson during practice on May 24, 2023, in Berea.
The Browns were back on the practice field on Monday after their bye week, starting preparations for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers . Watson, though, wasn't among the players on the field during the portion open to the media.
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The quarterback was working inside the team facility, as well three other injured Browns players: center Ethan Pocic , guard Joel Bitonio and tight end David Njoku . Stefanski spoke after practice and said all four players, including Watson, were "day to day" heading into the 49ers game. He steadfastly declined to get into any specifics with regards to Watson.
"I think the piece there that's important is medically cleared versus functionally able to do your job," Stefanski said. "I think that's ... with all of our guys, when you're working through an injury, you need to be able to functionally perform. That's what Deshaun's working very hard in his rehab to be able to get back to 100%." Stefanski did indicate that Watson was throwing better than he was previously, saying, "Yeah, he's working through this process and he's getting better."
Oct. 10: 'Rotator cuff contusion' revealed as specific injury to Deshaun Watson's shoulder
Deshaun Watson stands on the sideline during the first half against the Ravens on Oct. 1 in Cleveland.
The extent of what Watson's shoulder injury was over the previous two weeks had simply been a right shoulder contusion. However, the Beacon Journal confirmed the report from the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that it was, specifically, a "rotator cuff contusion" Watson sustained. However, nothing about Watson's status for Sunday against the 49ers had changed, with it still being day to day.
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The Browns players were off Tuesday. The team returns to practice Wednesday, the first day the team has to put out an injury report.
Oct. 11: Deshaun Watson doesn't practice, P.J. Walker elevated to backup
The day the Browns turned their full attention to the 49ers was the day the first alarm bells started to sound that Watson may miss a second game. The quarterback didn't practice at all , instead rehabbing inside. However, just as notable was an announcement from Stefanski that Walker, not Thompson-Robinson, would be the backup for the week. Walker, who has 15 career games, including seven starts, during his four-year career. He took all of the starter reps in Wednesday's practice, and will continue to do so as long as Watson is out. That would put Walker in line to start against the 49ers.
Oct. 12: Alex Van Pelt defends Deshaun Watson's toughness as P.J. Walker trends toward start
Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, left, and quarterback Deshaun Watson watch practice on Aug. 7, 2023.
Watson missed his second consecutive day of practice on Thursday, the next-to-last full practice day before the 49ers game. Van Pelt went on the defensive for his quarterback when he was asked why, if Watson had been "medically cleared" to play, he wasn't playing. "I would never ever doubt his toughness," Van Pelt said. "Never. I would never doubt his toughness. I've seen him play. I've seen him do some amazing things, fight through things. That is not the issue at all whatsoever." CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reported Thursday evening that Watson "will not play" against the 49ers, leaving Walker to start.
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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: Browns QB Deshaun Watson's shoulder injury timeline, latest updates
