Deshaun Watson will be eligible to get his first start with the Cleveland Browns this weekend.
After an incredibly painful and toxic shutdown for the Cleveland Browns, Deshaun Watson will make his first start with a new team this weekend versus his former team.
The former Clemson star and first-round draft pick for the Houston Texans completed an 11-game suspension last week. Cleveland went 4-7 with Jacoby Brissett as the Browns starter. While Cleveland has the talent to be a team on the brink of playoffs, the Browns have fallen short in their first 11 games of the season. They were on the brink of a win or two much worse than expected.
So, with Watson’s triumphant return to Houston on Sunday, what are some reasonable expectations for him and the Browns going into the last six games of the 2022 season?
Cleveland Browns: Realistic expectations for Deshaun Watson this season
over here Six games left in the regular season After Watson has the right to return.
- Week 13: at the Houston Texans (December 4)
- Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals (Dec. 11)
- Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens (December 17)
- Week 16: vs New Orleans Saints (Dec 24)
- Week 17: In Washington Leaders (January 1)
- Week 18: Pittsburgh Steelers (January 8)
On paper, the best team the rest of the Browns will play is the Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 15. The worst team they will play is in Houston on Sunday. While the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington leaders are better than them this season, the Browns are probably better than the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers this time of year.
In theory, Cleveland could split their last six games, possibly going 4-2 with Watson at the helm. Conversely, the Browns could go 2-4, maybe even 1-5 if Watson is rusty and divisional play gets the best of Cleveland the rest of the way. This really begs the question about the most important part of Watson being re-enlisted in the starting lineup: How bad are those cobwebs?
Watson hasn’t played an upset in a significant game since the end of the 2020 COVID season when he was still with Houston. He’s sat around for the past year while his legal status unfolded. If you do the math, Watson hasn’t played a significant game in nearly two years, having been scratched or suspended over the last 28. The Texans also went 4-12 in his final season with them.
To be completely honest, the Browns traded Watson because they desperately needed talent at the quarterback position in the most corrupt way possible. Watson is persona non grata in the league, but he can really nail it, which is why a team like the Browns would chase him down and land him. Again, it’s all about setting Brown up for success in 2023 and beyond. 2022 is a test run.
Realistically, let’s say the Browns went 3-3 the rest of the way to finish the season at 7-10. There will be a game where Watson is the difference maker, as well as a game where rust on the field is just too much to beat. In the end, Cleveland will take him 2-4 as their starting quarterback, as long as he stays healthy and the offense seems to be rallying around him.
As long as the Browns finish 6-11 or better, they can spin the final third of the season on a positive note.
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