'Deshaun Is Deshaun': What's Amari Saying?

SEPT 9 HE IS? The Cleveland Browns' awful Sunday - a 33-17 Week 1 loss to visiting Dallas - just got worse on Monday, as QB Deshaun Watson is now facing sexual assault charges. Yes, new sexual assault charges.

Seriously ... could that explain why Watson was so awful on this day? Again?

Watson finished the game 24-of-45 passing for 169 yards, with one garbage TD and two picks. His QBR rating was an insanely low 9.4 ... And the legal charges have Browns watchers wondering if a behavioral problem could allow the franchise to escape his albatross $230 million guaranteed contract.

Related: Watson Charged with Sex Crime; Could Browns Void Contract?

After the game, Amari Cooper - who played with the same lack of zest as Watson -issued a quote.

"Deshaun is Deshaun," Cooper said ... and we will leave that up to your interpretation.

SEPT 9 NJOKU ISSUE? Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku is being listed as "week-to-week" after sustaining what is believed to be a ankle injury in the team's season-opening 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Coach Kevin Stefanski would not confirm the suspicion that Njoku has a high ankle sprain, which would figure to cause him to miss substantial time.

It was on the Browns' second drive of the third quarter when Njoku injured his ankle at the end of a 29-yard catch-and-run. He went to the medical tent and then to the locker room.

The Browns called him "questionable to return,'' but he was done for the day as he finished Sunday with four catches for 44 yards.

SEPT 9 WHAT DISTRACTIONS? Which team was dealing with "distractions,'' again?

The Browns lost in Week 1 at home, 33-17, to the Dallas Cowboys ... even though "America's Team'' has spent the summer getting ripped for being "unstable'' and for being "distracted'' (largely due to the now-done contracts for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb) and for being generally inept under the leadership of owner Jerry Jones.

We sure about that?

When asked about dealing with it all, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy offered his usual, humorous response.

“We have a little bit of experience with distractions, so we dealt with it,” McCarthy joked.

Yeah, 33-17 means they "dealt with it'' ... and they dealt Cleveland some problems that might just linger, too.

SEPT 9 INJURY The Pittsburgh Steelers downed the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday 18-10, helping to put the Browns - who lost to Dallas, 33-17 - in an AFC North hole. But everybody's got their problems after Week 1. Example?

Pittsburgh punter Cam Johnston, who signed a three-year, $9 million contract this offseason, suffered a knee injury when a defender fell into his leg, almost bending his knee backward.

Following the game, coach Mike Tomlin gave an update on Johnston.

"Cam Johnston appears to have a serious injury,” Tomlin said. “It's a shame for him.''

The Steelers will offer an update on Monday.

SEPT 8 STEELERS WIN The Steelers went with Justin Fields as the starter in their first game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons as the team deactivated the injured Russell Wilson. They didn't even score a TD in the Week 1 game and yet ...

They won on the road at Atlanta 18-10.

Now it's the Browns turn in the AFC North. Read on ...

SEPT 8 A BREAK The Cincinnati Bengals just opened the 2024 season with a 16-10 loss to the lowly New England Patriots. ... who were the NFL slate's biggest underdogs of the week.

The Browns now need to do their thing against the visiting Dallas Cowboys this afternoon - Cleveland is a 2.5-point favorite - to get a head start in the AFC North.

Oh, and there is this: Joe Burrow and the Bengals head to Kansas City next week to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. So an 0-2 start for the supposedly powerful Bengals is in play.

SEPT 8 TV TOM IN Tom Brady is here for his Week 1 Sunday debut as a broadcast commentator for FOX as he'll work Sunday's America's Game of the Week between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns.

The Cowboys and Browns have plenty of storylines around their teams and shared between their opposing sides heading into the key Week 1 matchup.

To Brady, a major area of focus will be the battle between the quarterbacks, Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson.

"They both have huge years ahead... Dak's coming off probably the best season of his career statistically. Deshaun wants to get out there and prove Cleveland made the investment in him and he can come through when it matters," Brady said.

Inline

SEPT 8 PARTY Myles Garrett has the love of the Dawg Pound. And before Sunday's Game 1 in Cleveland against the visiting Dallas Cowboys?

Myles Garrett showed the love in return.

Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, paused for the cause before the afternoon kickoff to have some fun with fans ... and to thank them for their loyalty.

Inline

Next up? Maybe everybody gets rewarded with a Browns win over Dallas.