Tensions appear to be boiling over in Cleveland after Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson shared a tense moment with head coach Kevin Stefanski.
The Browns’ struggles on offense were encapsulated by a tumultuous drive that transpired with just under 15 minutes remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s game. After Cleveland’s defense forced its second turnover of the contest, Watson received the ball at the Washington Commanders’ 30-yard line down 24-6.
Following a 19-yard completion to wide receiver Amari Cooper, the Browns found themselves with a first and goal at the two-yard line. Any momentum that Cleveland built was quickly squandered, however, after its offense committed a false start, surrendered a sack, and tossed two incomplete passes.
Ahead of the pivotal fourth and goal down, Watson drew the ire of fans after appearing to walk off the field despite his coach wanting to run a play. Stefanski did little to hide his frustration following the miscommunication, dropping his hands to his knees and angrily snatching his headset off his head.
Taking to social media, Browns supporters blasted Watson for seemingly failing his teammates. “Kevin Stefanski wanted to go for it on 4th down. Deshaun Watson proceeds to quit on his team and walk off the field,” one X user wrote, with another adding: “He's a broken man. Think it'd be better to just bench him now.”
Another angle from the FOX broadcast clarified what really happened on the botched play. While gathering his team in the huddle, Watson realized that there were too many Browns players on the field. Rather than burning Cleveland’s second timeout himself in just the third quarter, the 29-year-old opted to trot off the field and exchange words with Stefanski and his assistant coaches.
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The strange incident was just one of several sloppy moments in the Browns 34-13 defeat. Watson finished the contest completing 15-of-28 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions while also being sacked seven times by the Commanders' stout defense.
Watson has done little to impress while commanding the Browns to a 1-4 record. Through the first five games of the season, he's thrown for 852 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions while additionally amassing 131 rushing yards on 25 carries.
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Despite the lackluster start to the year, Stefanski asserted that Cleveland's top brass is not yet considering making a change at quarterback. "We need to play better, I need to coach better, and that's really what it is," he told reporters in a post-game press conference on Sunday.
It remains to be seen how long of a leash Cleveland will give to Watson should his struggles persist. The Browns actively face an uphill battle to turn their season around, with difficult matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens coming over the next three weeks.
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