Former NFL QB Asks the Deshaun Watson Question Everyone is Thinking

It might be time for the Cleveland Browns to cut their losses with quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The 28-year-old signal caller missed much of training camp with “general arm soreness” and didn’t play in any of Cleveland’s three preseason games, prompting former NFL quarterback-turned-NFL analyst Chase Daniel to ask the question seemingly everyone has been thinking lately.

“Forget about the $230 million [contract]….is there a world that Jameis Winston, DTR, & Tyler Huntley are all better suited than Deshaun Watson to run [head coach Kevin] Stefanski’s offense for the Browns?” Daniel asked.

Daniel’s reasoning likely stems from the preseason performances of all three QBs, who seemed more effective at moving the ball that Watson has been during his Browns’ tenure.

In 12 career games in Cleveland, Watson’s completion percentage is a lowly 59.8, and he’s averaged just 184.5 yards passing per game with 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 37 sacks taken and an 81.7 passer rating.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 69% of his passes (38 of 55) for 375 yards a touchdown and an interception; Huntley completed 72.5% of his passes (37 of 51) for 322 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions; and Winston completed 71.4% of his passes (10-14) for 93 yards — and all of them played in all three of the Browns’ preseason contests.

While Stefanski did say he expects Watson to be ready for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 8, one has to wonder if that’s the smart play.

Watson is recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury — he tore his rotator cuff in Week 3 last season then suffered a shoulder scapula fracture in Week 9 — and he wasn’t exactly effective when he was healthy either.