BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns basic supervisor Andrew Berry was noncommittal when requested Wednesday about Deshaun Watson’s standing with the franchise, because the quarterback’s struggles in Cleveland continued earlier than he sustained a season-ending proper Achilles tendon tear in Week 7.
“Actually our focus with Deshaun, I might say for any participant with a season-ending harm and a significant harm, is in the beginning and to make it possible for he will get wholesome from the Achilles harm,” Berry stated throughout a information convention with reporters through the staff’s bye week. “All the things else, we’ll take care of at a later second.”
Earlier than the harm, Watson posted the bottom Complete QBR of any certified passer within the NFL. The Browns have been 1-5 in Watson’s six begins earlier than the Achilles harm and did not attain 20 factors in any of these video games.
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Berry, although, stated the offense’s points weren’t restricted to Watson.
“We’ve not performed effectively as a staff and we’ve not performed effectively as a unit on offense,” Berry stated. “I believe oftentimes when you do not play effectively on offense, clearly your beginning quarterback and your playcaller will get essentially the most criticism. However the actuality of it’s, offenses, it comes all the way down to group and synchronization. There’s simply lots of shared possession throughout the completely different place teams by way of why we did not carry out.”
Since buying and selling three first-round picks and giving Watson a totally assured $230 million contract earlier than the 2022 season, Watson has began 19 video games, with every of his final two seasons ending due to harm. He missed the ultimate eight video games of the 2023 season after present process surgical procedure to his throwing shoulder. He served an 11-game suspension to start out the 2022 season after greater than two dozen ladies accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage periods.
Since making his debut in Cleveland, Watson’s 33.8 Complete QBR ranks thirty second of 33 qualifying passers, greater than solely that of the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Younger.
Berry stated he was in “full help” of coach Kevin Stefanski’s resolution to maintain beginning Watson earlier than his newest harm. When requested whether or not the choice to commerce for Watson was his or a mandate from possession, Berry stated: “All of us have been on board.”
The Browns nonetheless owe Watson $46 million in every of the following two seasons. Watson has cap hits of $72.9 million within the 2025 and 2026 seasons, each slated to be the second highest within the NFL. Cleveland would tackle useless cap hits of $172 million and $99 million in 2025 and 2026 if the staff have been to half methods with Watson after the season.
One 12 months after ending with an 11-6 report and making the playoffs, the Browns are 2-7, tied for the worst report within the league.
Jameis Winston has taken over for the injured Watson and Stefanski relinquished playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey in Week 8. A disappointing first half of the season has seen the staff commerce two veteran leaders: extensive receiver Amari Cooper, who was traded to the Buffalo Payments, and defensive finish Za’Darius Smith, who was dealt to the Detroit Lions earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline.
When later requested whether or not it’s nonetheless doable for Watson to return because the Browns’ beginning quarterback, Berry stated, “Yeah, I believe that is at all times doable.”
Berry declined to evaluate the deal for Watson and whether or not it was a great commerce.
“I am actually not in reflection mode,” he stated.