The Getty Images
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is anticipated to start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
When Deshaun Watson was sidelined with a shoulder injury, he came under fire, and his camp at the Cleveland Browns attempted to refute the rumour that he didn’t want to play.
Watson has received some criticism because the Browns did a poor job of communicating the news of his injury. Kevin Stefanski’s statement to reporters on October 1 that Watson was “medically cleared” to play was one of the major gaffes.
Watson has a $230 million fully guaranteed contract, which is unprecedented. The “he doesn’t want to play” narrative has also been influenced by this, with detractors pointing out that he will still make his money.
According to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, Watson’s team was working behind the scenes to support their player.
Pluto posted on November 4 that “the Watson camp was giving information to their media friends trying to protect their player, especially when there was speculation that he didn’t want to play.” That was untrue. Yes, he desired to play. The injury was impeding his ability to throw the football, which was the issue. Additionally, it is a “repetitive” motion—throwing the ball repeatedly. The rotator cuff is strained more as a result.
Pluto pointed out that the terms “medically cleared” and “performance clearance” are not interchangeable, and the Browns ought to have been more transparent about the issues facing their quarterback.
Watson was, in fact, “medically cleared.” Pluto stated, “But not cleared for performance.” It would have been wiser for the Browns to declare, “His shoulder is injured. We will notify you as soon as he is prepared to play. then refrain from discussing the injury’s specifics.
Deshaun White Publicly Referenced Reports
When Watson was not on the pitch, he was largely silent. On October 26, he did, however, talk with reporters and refuted the claims that he was unwilling to play.
“Why wouldn’t I want to play? I just worked my asshole off for two years to get back into the game? Why wouldn’t I want to play? I’ve been doing this since I was six years old,” Watson remarked. “I see everything—all the stories, this and that—in the same ways. All of that is merely an attempt to stir up debate and disturbance. I’m alright. I’m content. I’m not content with my wound.
Prior to the injury, Watson was playing one of his best games as a member of the Browns. It was the second-best percentage of his career when he completed an incredible 82% of his passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns on September 24 against the Tennessee Titans.The Story of Deshaun Watson’s Injury Has Been Complicated
The story of Watson’s injury, which has lasted longer than a month, has been convoluted. Despite not practising during the week, Watson was anticipated to play against the Baltimore Ravens on October 1. But he was a late scratch because he didn’t appear to be ready during warmups. Dorian-Thompson, rookie Robinson started, threw three interceptions, and the Browns were defeated 28–3.
He has missed the majority of the previous three games. Against the Indianapolis Colts, he made a brief comeback to the lineup, but a big hit caused him to be pulled after just one quarter of the game.
Watson has been replaced by PJ Walker, whose performance has been lacking. This season, Walker has made three appearances, including two starts. Walker completed nearly three full games with 618 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions through the air.
The Browns’ decision to hold off on making a trade deadline trade for a seasoned quarterback such as Jacoby Brissett on October 31 was an indication that they believed Watson was prepared to return.
With Watson getting the start against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, hopefully all the talk will come to an abrupt end.For Heavy.com, J.R. DeGroote writes about the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, and Cleveland Browns. With prior stops at SB Nation and Bleacher Report, he has decades of experience in digital media. He covered local and statewide sports as a reporter for West Hawaii Today. For his sports photography and reporting, he has received numerous state, regional, and national awards. J.R. DeGroote’s biography
Leave a Reply