Browns HC: Deshaun Watson Will Play vs. Cowboys Week 1 amid Arm Injury After Rumors
Deshaun Watson is set to play in the Cleveland Browns season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.
"With Deshaun, with considerations to the guys who were out on offense – not just the offensive line – but just didn't feel like it would be best to put him out there in this setting," Stefanski said, per Kelsey Russo of ClevelandBrowns.com. "Very confident in the amount of work he's gotten to date throughout the spring and summer, and he'll be ready to roll Week 1."
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported that the expectation was that he would be available for the team's season-opener despite missing the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Browns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Browns</a> QB Deshaun Watson will not play tonight against the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Seahawks</a>, as the focus shifts to the beginning of the regular season. Watson missed time this week because of arm soreness, but did a full practice on Thursday.<br><br>He'll be ready for Week 1. <a href="https://t.co/hj5QZHkYfq">pic.twitter.com/hj5QZHkYfq</a>
Rapoport reported that Watson missed time in practice this past week due to "arm soreness," but that he did fully practice on Thursday.
Watson is entering his third year with Cleveland but has yet to play more than six games in a season due to injuries and a prior suspension. In his 12 games with the franchise, he has gone 8-4 with 2,217 passing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Cleveland has a strong roster and reached the postseason in 2023 despite having five quarterbacks take the field during the regular season.
A healthy Watson would bring some stability to the position group and Cleveland could continue to build on the positive momentum from the strong 2023 season.
The opener against the Cowboys is set for Sept. 8 at 4:25 p.m. ET.