The Cleveland Browns officially signed quarterback PJ Walker to the active roster on Wednesday after exhausting his three gameday elevations from the practice squad and promptly named him the starter for this week’s game.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday that Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will rest and rehab this week. Stefanski reversed course 48 hours after saying Watson would start this week.
The move relegates rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson to third string. It also comes amid Watson’s chronic shoulder issues. Watson did not practice Wednesday and was considered day-to-day ahead of this week’s game against the host Seattle Seahawks.
Watson started last week’s game against Indianapolis but didn’t last long. He was pulled with 3:13 left in the first quarter after a hit from Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. Watson cleared concussion testing and an MRI on Monday showed no further damage to the shoulder.
Stefanski said Monday that he was protecting Watson by not putting him back in against the Colts.
“He’s our starter moving forward,” Stefanski said. “He’s our starter in Seattle. I just — it’s always going to be my decision to protect our players.”
Walker replaced Watson and was 15-of-32 passing for 178 yards and one interception against the Colts.
Watson, 28, has completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 683 yards, four touchdowns and three picks in four starts this season.
The Browns could have cut Walker and hoped he cleared waivers to re-sign him back to the practice squad for a fresh new slate of three elevations.
The Browns also announced the signings of running backs Jordan Wilkins and Nate McCrary to the practice squad.
–Field Level Media