Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s struggles continue to mount, with the team’s offense sputtering and Watson’s performance falling short of expectations. Despite his confident assertions, Watson’s stats paint a dismal picture: a 34.3 total QBR, ranking 32nd among qualified passers, and a 20.7% off-target rate, third worst in the league.
The Browns’ 1-4 start has been marked by inconsistency and procedural penalties, including a delay of game on fourth down near the goal line that left coach Kevin Stefanski incredulous. Watson’s inability to lift the team around him, as he did in Houston, has been a major concern. The 29-year-old quarterback has been sacked a league-high 26 times, and his 2.95 seconds on average before throwing is the sixth highest in the league.
Injuries and inconsistencies around Watson haven’t helped, with the offensive line regressing and being in flux since training camp. Running back Nick Chubb and Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku have also been sidelined with injuries. Despite efforts to incorporate more spread-type formations, Watson’s play has been disjointed, and the entire offense seems to lack trust and cohesion.
Watson’s contract, which was restructured to create cap space, has created a significant dead cap hit if the Browns were to part ways with him. The team’s high-risk gamble on Watson becomes more glaring as his poor play worsens, and coach Stefanski’s assertion that Watson will remain the starting quarterback seems increasingly uncertain. As the Browns struggle to find their identity and rhythm, time is running out to turn their season around.
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