Browns QB Deshaun Watson Out at Least Another Week

The Cleveland Browns will be without star quarterback Deshaun Watson for at least another week and possibly more.

Watson was ruled out of the Browns’ Week 8 game by head coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday.

The Browns quarterback was initially injured in a Week 3 game against the Tennesse Titans. He finished that game, but was unable to play the following week against the Baltimore Ravens, when he was replaced by rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

He was also unable to play after Cleveland’s bye against the San Francisco 49ers on Week 6, when veteran P.J. Walker was called up from the practice squad to start. Watson returned to action in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, but after being examined for a concussion, he was cleared for the concussion protocol but remained on the sideline.

The situation was clarified this week when Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Watson suffered a subscapularis strain in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder. That strain has caused pain and impacted his ability to throw with top velocity and pinpoint accuracy.

So Watson is healthy enough that he could play, but not healthy enough that he can play well. Schefter reported that a subscapularis strain usually causes baseball pitchers to miss four to six weeks. Watson has already been dealing with the injury for five weeks, but it’s unclear how Watson repeatedly trying to play through the injury may have impacted his timetable for a return.

Walker will start this Sunday when the Browns travel to face the Seattle Seahawks. They have another NFC game the following week before back-to-back AFC North battles against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 12 and Steelers on Nov. 19. Watson’s ability to return in time for those divisional contests will be a huge factor.

Despite Watson’s injury, the Browns have won two of the three games he missed, beating the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6 and the Indianapolis Colts after he left Sunday’s game.

RELATED: Browns Lose Another Running Back to Injury

AFC NORTH STANDINGS

UPCOMING AFC NORTH SCHEDULE

Week 8
Sunday, Oct. 30, 1 p.m. Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4:25 p.m. Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4:25 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers

Week 9
Thursday, Nov. 2, 8:15 p.m. Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, Nov. 5, 1 p.m. Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, Nov. 5, 8:20 p.m. Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals
BYE: Baltimore Ravens

Week 10
Sunday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m. Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m. Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m. Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers