Kevin Stefanski decides it's 'best' for Deshaun Watson to 'rest' in preseason finale

SEATTLE — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski changed his mind about starting quarterback Deshaun Watson in his team's preseason finale at the Seattle Seahawks. Jameis Winston hasn't changed his mind, though, about what he thinks Watson can do once he does get out in a real game.

Winston may have ended up the starter in the Browns' 37-33 preseason-ending loss at the Seahawks . However, he believes Watson was fully prepared to make the start, right up until their head coach decided to make a long-term decision.

"Well, I believe he processed that with whoever he had that conversation with. because the way he was preparing this week, we all thought that he was about to go, too," Winston said after the game. "So like I say, I do what I'm able to do, but we know that he's going to be ready. We know that he's excited to get out there with the guys, and all the guys know too. They see how he comes to work every day, hungry, interactive, and ready to go."

The "plan" had been, for at least a couple of weeks, for Watson to start in Seattle. It would've been his first live game action since last Nov. 12 , when he suffered the season-ending shoulder injury at the Baltimore Ravens.

However, it was announced a little under 12 hours before kickoff Saturday that Stefanski was flipping the plan and going with Winston instead of Watson. That means Watson's first game action since last Nov. 12 will come when the Browns open the regular season on Sept. 8 against the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Stefanski chalked up the decision to a variety of factors, including the number of offensive starters who didn't play for the Browns in Seattle. That group included left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., left guard Joel Bitonio, tight end David Njoku and wide receivers Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy.

"Well, our guys are competitors," Stefanski said after the game. "And like I told you guys, you always have to take all the information that comes in and just, he's played in the preseason before, but just I felt like in this situation with the guys who are going to be unavailable, just felt like it was best for him to rest."

Winston played two series for the Browns, going 6 of 9 for 63 yards and posting an 86.8 passer rating. His second possession ended with a fourth-down throw into the end zone going too long and out of the reach of wide receiver Jamari Thrash.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson came on for Winston after the second possession, and finished out the first half. He was 11 of 20 for 115 yards with a touchdown and an 88.5 passer rating.

"I mean, I'd like to think I went out there and played clean, efficient football and it led to some scoring drives there in the second quarter," Thompson-Robinson said after the game. "But I mean, I think the chips will fall where they may, and I'm just out here trying to get better every day, better my teammates every day. And like I said, do everything I can to try and help win the game."

The second half was entirely the domain of Tyler Huntley. The former Ravens backup quarterback, if he does end up being the odd man out in the Browns' quarterback room, put on a showcase.

Huntley was 17 of 22 for 146 yards and three touchdowns. He had a 133.7 passer rating.

"I just want to play football," Huntley said of his future. "So wherever I play football at, that's what it's going to be."

The next time the Browns play a football game, there's not expected to be any question at least about who the starter is going to be for them. Watson has essentially been a full participant in training camp, with only one day — back on Aug. 2, the final day at The Greenbrier — where he had a scheduled day off.

There was concern raised during Wednesday's final training camp practice about Watson when he stopped throwing. After practice, Stefanski said it was "general arm soreness" and that the decision was the head coach's to make him stop throwing.

Watson did return to practice on Thursday before the Browns left for Seattle. He took all of his normal reps in that practice.

"He's felt good, really," Stefanski said. "I mean, again, coming off the surgery, he's put himself in position. Obviously you're going to have days where you're not feeling great, but he's pushed through, he's practiced well, he's excited."

Watson, who has made just 12 starts for the Browns since being acquired from the Houston Texans prior to the 2022 season, has not played in a game since a Week 10 win over the Ravens last season, when he completed all 14 of his pass attempts in the second half to lead the Browns to a 33-31 come-from-behind win. That was also, apparently, when he sustained a broken glenoid in his throwing shoulder that required season-ending surgery.

The surgery occurred on Nov. 21 in Los Angeles, with Dr. Neal ElAttrache handling the procedure. Watson did not begin a throwing program until March 18.

During the second and third phases of the Browns offseason program in May and early June, Watson was throwing every other day and only in individual drills. He added 7 on 7 drills to the process during minicamp in mid-June.

"Yeah, I think we've had a lot of time together as an offense, as a teammate with his team," Stefanski said. "He's a winner, continues to win games for us. I'm excited for him with all the work that he's put into this offseason. I'm excited for him."

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: Kevin Stefanski decides it's 'best' for Deshaun Watson to 'rest' in preseason finale