Will he or won't he? Cleveland Browns finally decide if Deshaun Watson plays in the final preseason game

After days of speculation, the Browns finally opted to be conservative.  Weeks ago it was decided that Deshaun Watson would start the final preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. It was to be his first NFL appearance in nine months.  His 2023 was shut down early for season-ending shoulder surgery.

Many thought playing him was a bad idea when the offensive tackle injuries happened.  Then, Coach Kevin Stefanski explained the real reason for his hesitation.  Watson experienced arm soreness during practice this week. In the end, Stefanski decided to hold him out of the Seattle game.

No one believes the soreness is significant enough to hinder his Week 1 start. The preseason game does not count so why risk it? The one benefit of Watson playing in the preseason was to shake off rust before the season began.

Browns fans will continue to wait, two more weeks to be exact, to see their franchise quarterback on the field once again.  He has played 12 games since arriving in the blockbuster trade in 2022.  If the Browns want to contend, he needs to stay healthy.  The musical chairs of starting quarterbacks in 2023 worked better than most expected, but no one wants to repeat it.