'General arm soreness' sidelines Deshaun Watson, but no final decision on preseason finale

BEREA — Deshaun Watson's throwing day ended on Wednesday due to "general arm soreness," according to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. The quarterback, however, has not been ruled out yet for Saturday's preseason finale at the Seattle Seahawks.

Watson participated in individual drills, as well as 7 on 7 and some 11 on 11 drills. However, when the Browns shifted to the first-team offense against the scout-team defense, it was backup Jameis Winston who took all of the reps.

"I'm not going to get into Seattle plans just yet," Stefanski said after practice, the final one open to fans . "Deshaun was a little sore. I decided to just hold back a little bit with him, but not overly concerned."

Stefanski has been steadfast over the last 10 days that "the plan" is for Watson to start Saturday's preseason finale. However, he's maintained an out every time he's spoken that he was going to "take in all of the information" to make the final decision.

The arm soreness, coupled with questions that remain with the Browns' current left tackle situation, would seem like information that would lead to a change in plans. Stefanski, when asked directly if he was ruling Watson out of Saturday's game on Wednesday, said, "No."

"I think for us, we want to just get through today, get to tomorrow, see where we are, make decisions on the game when we think it’s appropriate," Stefanski said. "Don’t feel like we have to rush into anything.”

Watson has thrown every day but one since training camp started on July 25 at The Greenbrier. The only day he didn't throw at all was Aug. 2, the final practice in West Virginia.

"I'd say general arm soreness but, again, he practiced," Stefanski said. "I held him back. He could have gone. He's feeling fine."

According to Stefanski, the Browns are scheduled to hold a practice Thursday before leaving for Seattle that afternoon. He was asked if Watson would throw then and he responded, "We'll see."

Stefanski said the soreness started before practice. However, he did indicate this was not something that was a first-time happening.

"I mean, you're a quarterback," Stefanski said. "You're throwing a lot, so you get sore."

Watson hasn't played in a live game since last Nov. 12, when he led the Browns to a 33-31 come-from-behind win at the Baltimore Ravens. It was after that game he was diagnosed with a broken glenoid, which led to season-ending shoulder surgery on Nov. 21.

The rehab from that surgery led to a prolonged ramp-up process for Watson's throwing program, which started March 18. He spent most of the OTAs only throwing every other day in individual drills before adding in 7 on 7 drills during June minicamp.

Watson was a full participant from the start of training camp. He occasionally sat out some individual work mid-practice, but has been involved in almost all of the first-team reps in 7 on 7 and 11 on 11.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'General arm soreness' sidelines Deshaun Watson, but no final decision on preseason finale