'Weird!' Are Browns & QB Deshaun Hiding Something?

The Cleveland Browns are scheduled to play their final preseason game of the year against the Seahawks in Seattle on Saturday night. The initial proclamation from the Browns was that Deshaun Watson would start that game.

Since then, however, Watson has been held out of practices with “arm soreness,” leading one analyst to call the whole situation “weird.”

Jason Lloyd of the Athletic is questioning what the Browns are really doing.

“The whole thing is weird, the vibe around this entire camp,” Lloyd wrote . “It’s just weird. It’s the only best word to describe it. It doesn’t make sense.”

Watson was cleared for full contact a couple of weeks ago but has not played a single snap in the preseason. With a surgically repaired shoulder, you would think the Browns would want to at least get drive under his belt before opening the regular season in a few weeks.

“There were people in Deshaun’s camp who were making it sound like he wouldn’t play in the preseason,” Lloyd continued. “And then Kevin comes out and says he’s going to play. Then Deshaun comes out and says it’s news to me.

Related: Preview: Will Watson Play in Browns Preseason Finale vs. Seahawks?

“And now Kevin backtracks and says we’ll reassess as we get closer to the game. Then Deshaun just shuts it down. Yeah, it’s weird.”

Watson has only played in 12 games in two seasons since being acquired from the Houston Texans in 2022. If Watson doesn’t play in the preseason and then comes out and plays horribly to start the regular season - it's the Dallas Cowboys visiting in Week 1 -  there could be a big problem.

Or maybe there already is.