CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson was in full uniform Saturday as the Browns opened their preseason with a 23-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. However, he did not play as Jameis Winston started, with Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson taking on the vast majority of quarterback duties.
Watson may or may not be back in uniform next Saturday when the Browns host the Minnesota Vikings for their second preseason game. It doesn’t matter though, because he won’t play in that game either.
That should come as no surprise to the Browns this preseason, considering they will have two joint practices with the Vikings in Berea on Wednesday and Thursday. Those two days are the really important ones for the organization, which is why head coach Kevin Stefanski was so quick to announce the plan on a Zoom call on Sunday.
“Similar to what we’ve done in the past,” Stefanski said, referring to previous joint workouts. “So (Watson) is going to get the vast majority of the reps. He’s not going to play in the game Saturday night, so he’s going to get his work done against them in a controlled environment.”
Stefanski was more forceful than before when he confirmed on Sunday that Watson was cleared for full contact. He had been asked about it on July 27 and simply said the quarterback was “right where he needs to be.”
This could give Watson the opportunity to play in the Browns’ final preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on August 24. An official decision has not yet been made.
Joint practices have become a staple of the Browns’ preseason, especially since Stefanski became head coach. They played home and away against the Philadelphia Eagles each of the last two years, while in 2021 they had to play a doubleheader against the New York Giants.
Two years ago, the NFL officially announced Watson’s 11-game suspension on the first day the Eagles were in town after the two sides agreed to a settlement following the league’s appeal. It turned into a bad couple of days for the Browns against the eventual NFC champions, a harbinger of the troubles that plagued them during their 7-10 2022 season.
A year ago, the Browns were on par with the Eagles on day one, and perhaps even had a slight edge. Day two was marked by some offensive issues in the red zone and a brief skirmish between the two teams as Cleveland’s offense went up against Philadelphia’s defense.
“It’s an important part of training camp, and I discussed this with our players last night,” Stefanski said. “We’re in the middle of training camp, and this week is going to be tough. It’s going to be physical, it’s going to take a toll on you mentally and physically, things like that. It’s going to allow us to compete against a different scheme, because what they’re doing offensively and defensively is really different than what we’re doing.”
These joint practices represent the most consistent amount of good-on-good reps the Browns get against any other team in the preseason. Against the Packers, for example, the starters who played for both teams had just one possession each.
The Browns and Vikings will spend much of the two days pitting their first units against each other in different practices, creating opportunities for matchups like cornerback Denzel Ward versus Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson or defensive end Myles Garrett versus Minnesota left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
“I think one of the biggest differences is between our ones and our twos,” Stefanski said. “But our ones are going to do the majority of practice, so our core players are going to be playing against their core players. You’re not going to be practicing with your threes as much at these practices, in quotes, because that’s where they’re going to be doing their work in the game. So you’re going to see a lot of your core players out there. Again, it’s about getting them mentally and physically ready for the season.”
Kevin Stefanski remains silent on injury updates after Green Bay Packers’ preseason game
Stefanski did not have any updates on the Browns’ players other than center Luke Wypler, who left the Packers game due to injury. That group included safety Ronnie Hickman (back), wide receiver David Bell (quad), linebacker Nathaniel Watson (quad) and safety Vincent Gray (groin).
The head coach also did not have any updates on the schedules of many of the Browns’ previously injured players, including rehabbing tackle duo Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin, running backs Nick Chubb and Nyheim Hines, and recently injured defensive end Za’Darius Smith and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
“I would say we’re really taking it day by day with all of our guys,” Stefanski said. “They continue to do a good job with their rehab and when they’re ready, they’ll be out there. And that really goes for a lot of guys who continue to rehab on the side. We’ll get them in there as quickly as we can.”
Reach Chris Easterling at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
