Deshaun Watson’s latest comments are potentially concerning for the offense of the Browns

There is no other way around it, how the Cleveland Browns have opened the 2024 season has been a disappointment.

Right now, the biggest flaw with the team is the offense. Cleveland’s offense has been one of the worst in the NFL through the first three weeks of the season and they badly need to improve there.

From the play calling to the offensive line, to the wide receivers, and the quarterback, none of it has been good enough for the Browns so far this season . Last week’s 21-15 loss at home to the New York Giants really put a magnifying glass on all of that. Now, Deshaun Watson is making it clear that he does not want to run the ball if he doesn’t have to. It is a bit concerning because that is perhaps a way that this offense can get moving.

“I’m not trying it. If I don’t have to run, I’m not going to run. So, I’m not trying to take any hits,” Watson said on Wednesday.

When it comes to why, Watson pointed to the fact that he is not a running quarterback. This may be true a bit, but he is capable and he has shown that throughout his career, so why not do it?

“I’m not a running quarterback, in a sense. I can make things happen, but I’m not trying to run. I’m not a running back. It’s not my specialty. They signed me to throw the ball, make decisions, and be a quarterback, not a runner.”

So far this season, Watson is completing just 58 percent of passes for 551 yards. He has three touchdown passes, two interceptions, and two lost fumbles. The offensive line hasn’t helped him much, but they are not solely to blame for the 16 times he has been sacked already.

In the three seasons that Watson has played at least 15 games, he has crossed 400 yards rushing in each of them. In 2019, he had a career-high 551 yards on the ground to go with five touchdowns. The following season he had a career-high seven rushing touchdowns with the Houston Texans.

In his first three games back from last year’s season-ending shoulder injury, Watson revealed he is feeling good out there so far this season in terms of health.

“I’m holding up very well,” he said. “So, doing really good, feeling well, each and every week, just got to recover, regroup, get with my team and all the treatment and regen that we have in this building and make sure I’m ready to go on Sundays, but right now I’m feeling good.”

Related: Browns Injury Report: Cleveland starts off week with bad news that they will lose a Pro Bowler for multiple weeks