Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson participated fully in practice on Friday, and the Browns enter the weekend believing Watson will start Sunday in Indianapolis. Here’s what you need to know:
- Watson is officially listed as questionable, and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said the team will not name an official starter for Sunday until it is certain Watson does not experience additional swelling or pain in his injured right shoulder.
- After virtually not throwing for two full weeks of practice and missing practice on Wednesday, Watson threw again on Thursday and Friday.
- PJ Walker is called up from the practice squad as the No. 2 quarterback and would start Sunday if Watson can’t.
What did Watson look like in practice?
Watson didn’t really let it rip at the start of practice on Thursday, but he seemed to be much more determined on Friday. He wore a sleeve on his throwing arm and some kind of small support on his shoulder.
It can be assumed that there is still a certain degree of uncertainty among everyone involved. Can he make all the throws? Does he have the necessary timing with his receivers? We really don’t know.
The Browns need Watson back, and the offense desperately needs reinforcements so it can show the necessary improvements. It seems like Watson’s outlook has changed in recent days, and we’ll soon see if the offensive outlook changes. — Zac Jackson, Browns staff member
What this means for the imagination
With Watson’s risk – he makes all the throws, as Zac Jackson mentioned – he’s no more than a middle QB2, and that’s only because we have six teams on byes and other injuries. Watson already wasn’t a QB1 in fantasy outside of the Tennessee Titans matchup, which helps any quarterback look good. Amari Cooper doesn’t change his WR2 range rating because the risk of Watson being below 100 percent is no different than that of Walker starting. Elijah Moore is a high-profile Hail Mary play and David Njoku is still a boom/bust TE2. — Jake Ciely, senior fantasy writer
What Stefanski said
“He looked good today,” the coach said on Friday.
Stefanski was hesitant to say anything else, initially saying Watson was “medically cleared” before the Browns’ Week 4 game against Baltimore.
Watson was missing the morning of the game and, following the Browns’ bye week, he also missed last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Required reading
(Photo: Jason Miller/Getty)