For better or worse, the Cleveland Browns will get their first look at what Deshaun Watson can do against somebody else’s defense on Friday against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cleveland’s preseason opener. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network was one of many reporters to break this story on Wednesday.
“I do,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Tuesday, when asked if there was already a plan in place for Cleveland’s preseason opener. “I have not shared that with the team yet, so I will wait on announcing that. We have a framework for how we are going to handle this preseason. As you know, you always reserve the right to change your mind based on how practice goes and those type of things, but we are pretty confident in the plan we have.”
Stefanski also said then that Watson would make the trip to Jacksonville, and now we know why.
Watson has already been suspended for the first six games of the regular season due to his multiple alleged sexual assaults, and the NFL has appealed what it believes to be a relatively light suspension handed down by independent arbiter and former federal judge Sue L. Robinson. The NFL originally wanted Watson suspended for the entire 2022 season, with a 2023 reinstatement based on Watson’s behavior, and we don’t yet know what that will look like.
During recent owners meetings to approve new ownership for the Denver Broncos, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was as pointed as he has been regarding his thoughts on the situation. Goodell referred to Watson’s behavior as “predatory.”
Quotes from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the decision to appeal Watson suspension: pic.twitter.com/73ZcKRvfym
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 9, 2022
Preseason games don’t always count with suspensions. The NFL would have to put forth a separate complaint for Watson to be suspended for the Jacksonville game, and/or for the Browns’ other two preseason games — against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, August 21, and against the Chicago Bears on Saturday, August 27. Or, a new suspension upon appeal, which specifically would prohibit Watson from engaging in any team-related activities, would have to come down before Friday’s game.
