Deshaun Watson returned to practice on Nov. 16, and though he cannot play in a game until Dec. 4, making sure his presence alongside Jacoby Brissett doesn’t become a distraction is just the latest challenge for Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Stefanski won’t reveal how he will divvy up snaps between Brissett and Watson during team practice. Brissett got most of the work during individual drills on Nov. 16 during the portion of practice open to the media.
“This is the next step for (Watson),” Stefanski said before practice. “It’s good to have him back on the field.
“We talked about (Watson practicing being a distraction) this morning. He’s eligible to practice with the team, but what’s important is we do everything we can to find a way to get a win versus Buffalo. That’s where the players’ focus is.”
The Browns, 3-6, are scheduled to meet the Bills on Nov. 20 in Orchard Park, N.Y. The weather forecast calls for three feet of snow on Nov. 18 and 19 in the Buffalo area.
Deshaun Watson (4) goes through warmups with the other #Browns quarterbacks before the start of practice Nov. 16. It was his first time on the field since Aug. 30. pic.twitter.com/rTAcFl9wPB
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) November 16, 2022
The Bills (6-3) are one of the six teams the Browns are trying to catch to earn one of three wild-card playoff spots. The Browns are three games behind the first-place Ravens in the AFC North.
Questions asked of Brissett and other players in the locker room before practice were mainly weather and Watson related. It’s going to be that way — at least about Watson — for the next two weeks.
Coach Kevin Stefanski spoke to his players to make sure Deshaun Watson returning to practice doesn’t become a distraction for the #Browns pic.twitter.com/qG46WdHsqI
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) November 16, 2022
“It’s Coach’s job to balance how he splits things up and stuff like that,” Brissett said. “I just have to go out there and prepare like I always prepare. Do my job and then control what I can control. That’s something I can’t control and I’m honestly not trying to.
“We’ve talked about a lot of things going into practice about how things will be split up and I feel confident that I’ll be more than fine going into the game.”
Watson, whether or not management wants to acknowledge it, has been a distraction since March 18 when the Browns traded six draft picks to the Houston Texans to acquire him. Twenty-two massage therapists sued Watson on allegations of sexual misconduct before the trade was made.
Two Texas grand juries in March chose not to indict Watson on criminal charges. Two more women sued Watson after the trade.
Watson reached undisclosed financial settlements with 23 of his accusers. He has not met with media since Aug. 18 when the NFL announced his 11-game suspension. At that time, he continued to maintain he is innocent.
“I have always stood on my innocence, and I always said that I never assaulted anyone or disrespected anyone, and I am continuing to stand on that,” Watson said.
Part of the terms of Watson’s suspension required him to follow a treatment plan designed by behavioral clinicians. Also, any massage sessions Watson has must be approved by the Browns as long as he plays for them. The massage therapist must also be approved.
Perhaps by the 2023 season when Watson begins training camp as the undisputed starter without a suspension hanging over his head, the questions will all be about football. But that is not the situation as he resumes practice for the first time in more than two months.
“It won’t be awkward at all,” running back Nick Chubb said. “Jacoby is our quarterback. He has been since the beginning of the season, so it won’t be awkward at all, but we’re all excited to see Deshaun come out, get some reps and see how he’s been doing.”
Watson returned to the Browns’ training complex in Berea on Oct. 10. He was allowed to attend meetings and participate in weight lifting and conditioning, but not practice.
Injury update
Browns:Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah returned to full practice Nov. 16. He missed the last two games with a knee injury. … Tight end David Njoku (ankle), guard Michael Dunn (back) and safety D’Anthony Bell (concussion) did not practice because of injury. … Left guard Joel Bitonio, wide receiver Amari Cooper, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and defensive end Myles Garrett were given practice off to rest.
Bills: Quarterback Josh Allen (right elbow) was limited. … Linebacker Temaine Edmunds (groin, heel), fullback Regie Gilliam (illness), wide receiver Jake Kumerow (ankle), cornerback Cam Lewis (forearm, illness), linebacker Matt Milano (illness), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (illness), linebacker Von Miller (rest), defensive end Greg Rousseau (ankle) and defensive tackle Tim Settle (illness) did not practice.
