The Cleveland Browns have been in a unique position since acquiring QB Deshaun Watson. Watson is the team’s long-term quarterback with the highest upside on the field that the team has seen in a long, long time. He also hadn’t practiced or played in over a year.
His first reps in preseason showed that time off was a problem
With his season washed away after an agreement between Watson and the Houston Texans, it was important to knock off some rust. However, it was well established when Cleveland traded with Houston that the quarterback would miss some time in 2022.
HC Kevin Stefanski has worked to thread the needle of helping Watson knock the rust off and preparing Jacoby Brissett to start the season. That plan has now had a switch flipped:
#Browns Kevin Stefanski said while the majority share of first-team reps will now go to Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson will still get plenty of work in that regard as well.
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) August 14, 2022
Once again trying to thread the needle between the short and long-term interests of the team, Brissett will take over the first team with Watson sprinkled in. This will allow the offense to cater to Brissett while keeping Watson’s contact with the starters fresh.
We won’t know how this plan will impact the team but will likely be brought up if Brissett struggles early in the year. At this point, Watson returning in 2023 seems most likely so Brissett has to become the focus in camp.
