Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson insists injury, and not will, is preventing him from taking the field for Cleveland.
Watson said wanting to play isn’t even a question during an interview with the media Thursday in response to criticism suggesting his desire to play isn’t the same as it was before he signed a five-year guaranteed contract with the Browns.
“This is what I’ve been doing since I was 6 years old. So why wouldn’t I want to play?” Watson said. “I see the same things. I see all the narratives, this, that and the third. All this stuff is just trying to cause controversy and commotion. I’m fine. I’m happy. Not happy with the injury, but I’m in a great space mentally, I’m in a great space spiritually.
“Why wouldn’t I want to play? I don’t do this for no other reason. I see that. The whole contract situation and this stuff, that’s just for people to talk and create narratives.”
Originally injured five weeks ago, Watson attempted to return last week and quickly realized he wasn’t himself.
“I thought I was ready. I wasn’t ready,” Watson said.
Watson has been ruled out of this Sunday’s game at Seattle and said he’s working to get his shoulder back to full strength. He’s dealing with a strained right rotator cuff.
He said medical evaluation will decide when he gets back on the field.
“We just don’t know. Until the medical staff tells the coaching staff and myself feels very comfortable I can go out there and be the quarterback people saw in Tennessee, we’ve just got to take it day-by-day,” Watson said. “There’s no certain timeline on certain injuries. It might be shorter, it might be longer.”
In his stead, P.J. Walker is in line to start against the Seahawks. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Watson “didn’t look like himself” but was clearly limited despite a strong practice two days before the game.
The Browns (4-2) are trying to sort through injuries at other positions before visiting the Seahawks (4-2). Running back Jerome Ford (ankle) is unlikely to be ready for the game, pushing Kareem Hunt into the starting role.
“You got to go out there and just play, and that’s what it kind of was,” said Hunt, who re-signed with the Browns on Sept. 20 following a season-ending knee injury to starter Nick Chubb. “It’s hard to really say when or when it’s done, but I think each week I’m going to keep getting better and feeling great.”
–Field Level Media