Cleveland, OH
Oh no, Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Sucks Again, But There Are Excuses
What’s the excuse now, Deshaun Watson?
It cannot be rust anymore, because it’s been years since you joined the Cleveland Browns after being shelved by the Houston Texans.
It cannot be the weight of all those lawsuits for sexual harassment and an NFL suspension on your mind because that came in 2022, when you finally had a chance to start earning your milestone contract with the Browns.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is tackled by Damone Clark #18 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Watson Says He’s Same QB As Always
And it cannot be an injury, like it was last season in which you were knocked from the lineup by series of curious circumstances, all of them concerning your throwing shoulder.
So what is it now?
Why are you, Deshaun Watson, a sub-par NFL quarterback and a shadow of the player you were in 2020 when everything looked so amazing?
“I’ll always be Deshaun Watson, regardless of whoever else says otherwise,” Watson said Sunday evening after the 33-17 loss to the Cowboys that left most of the Browns embarrassed. “…You’re going to have days like this. We all have days like this when we you’re playing this type of game.
“That’s just part of what comes with it. It comes with the territory, and especially in my position.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is hit by Marshawn Kneeland #94 of the Dallas Cowboys as he throws the ball in the third quarter of the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Watson Acquisition Gets More Questionable
Watson’s position was set by the Browns when they signed the quarterback to an unprecedented fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022. That deal means Watson cannot be cut because it would wreck Cleveland’s salary cap.
The Browns are on the hook for a $72.9 million salary cap charge on Watson each of the next two seasons.
And he cannot be traded because, well, nobody is trading for a player that has been struggling for a couple of years with that contract.
Did we mention the Browns gave up three first-round draft picks to acquire Watson before they handed him the keys to a bank vault?
So, Watson has to perform. Must perform.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns fumbles the ball as he is hit by DeMarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter of the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
A Watson Stinker Vs. Cowboys
But he isn’t performing. He completed 24 of 45 passes for only 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in this loss.
It was a stinker.
“Much is given, much is required,” Watson himself said, sort of quoting Scripture. “So, you know, got to add a little bit more to whatever it is. We didn’t have enough this week. And we got to make sure we have enough next week to get on the right page.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said during training camp that Watson had “attacked” the rehab connected to last season’s shoulder injury.
On Sunday the Dallas defense attacked Watson. The Cowboys pressured Watson 25 times, including six sacks on 56 dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns throws the ball in the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Watson wilted against that pressure. He completed only 5 of 17 passes for 22 yards while throwing under pressure.
“It’s frustrating,” receiver Amari Cooper told reporters. “You always want to protect your quarterback, especially like you just mentioned, coming off a surgery. Obviously, he’s been rehabbing well but don’t want the quarterback to get hit too much.
“I think he got hit a little bit too much.”
And there it is. The excuse
Watson was sacked six times. And, obviously, a lot of that was a protection breakdown.
“We cannot let our quarterback get hit that often,” Stefanski said. “Period.”
But some of that was Watson showing a lack of awareness.
Like the time on fourth down he rolled right and rather than throwing the ball somewhere, anywhere, because it was fourth down, he held the ball and took the sack.
Watson Missed Opportunities
There was also an issue with those hits affecting Watson. Stefanski said Watson “battled” but he seemed quite more interested in getting out of the pocket than more often hanging in there and delivering an accurate throw.
One of those occasions was when Watson vacated the pocket as Cooper cut across the middle of the field wide, wide open. Watson obviously didn’t see him.
This is not the same Watson who played for the Houston Texans and was an MVP candidate in 2020 when he threw 33 TD passes against only seven interceptions and collected 4,823 passing yards.
On Sunday that dude was not playing quarterback for the Browns. It was some other guy. Some lesser player.
Ironically, in suggesting a possible rebound to what happened Sunday, Watson recalled his Houston days.
“It’s the NFL, anything can happen,” Watson said. “I started 0-4 in 2018. We won 11 straight … Anything can happen, anything is possible.”
Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell previewed their championship bout and came face to face at the press conference. The two fighters square off this Saturday, July 4, at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.
- Cleveland-based 22-year-old southpaw Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) of Bedford, Ohio, defends his WBO lightweight title after claiming the vacant belt last November by decision against Sam Noakes.
- Toledo’s 33-year-old Bell (28-0, 9 KOs), who makes his first bid to become a champion, took the fight on short notice, replacing Joe Cordina of Wales.
See below what Mason and Bell had to say at the press conference on Thursday, following the open workout.
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Mason: I’m prepared to come out on top
“I’m excited. I’m super excited,” Mason said. “This is something me and my brothers have been looking forward to doing since we were amateurs. We fought on the same card a few times as amateurs, and all of us did it together on the last show my father threw here in Cleveland. It was huge.”
“At that time, we were like, ‘Yo, when we do this on a professional level, it’s going to be big for Cleveland.’ And now, it’s big for not only Cleveland, but it’s on TNT, so this is a national stage, a world stage with DAZN. I’m just excited to be able to put this show on with two of my brothers on the card.”
“I feel like it [fight vs Sam Noakes] was definitely a much-needed experience. That’s not the type of fight you have all the time in your career. It was something I felt like I had to do that night. Every fight is different, and it definitely gave me some insight into how I’ll approach the rest of my career. So, it was a much-needed experience and a great fight.”
“It [opponent change] was definitely unexpected. Albert Bell – that’s our guy from Toledo. But it’s boxing. You’ve got to be prepared for anything, and I’m prepared to come out on top. Everything happens for a reason.”
“One thing I do want to say is, I’m the youngest world champion in boxing for a reason, and I’m prepared to show that when I step into the ring.”
“Boxing is offense, defense and IQ, and you’ve got to put it together and tailor it to the person you’re stepping in the ring with. So, with the opponent switch, I just have to tailor it to the person across the ring from me, and that’s Albert Bell.”
Bell: We’re here now, and that’s all that matters
“I mean, it caught me by surprise,” Bell said on stepping in to face Mason on short notice. “It was an ideal opponent for me. I wasn’t really thinking about fighting Abdullah, especially not this soon. But everything made sense. I talked to my pops about it, and it made sense, so I stepped in to save the card, get my world title opportunity and put on a show for all of Ohio.”
“I mean, I get turned down by a lot of guys. I’m not saying that in a cocky way or trying to act like I’m the boogeyman or anything like that, but a lot of guys say no when my name comes across their table. I would’ve had the name I was supposed to have by now if it weren’t for that, but what’s delayed is not denied. We’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”
“I just need to be the best version of myself. I know he’s coming to be the best version of himself. He’s prepared, I’m prepared. We’re ready. We’re two top fighters, and we’re professionals. We’re both Ohioans. We’ve got history with each other, and it’s gonna be a show for sure.”
Mason vs Bell undercard
In the co-feature, Bruce Carrington (17-0, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn makes the first defense of his WBC featherweight title against Rene Palacios (19-0-1, 10 KOs) of Mexico.
On the undercard, Cleveland’s Delante “Tiger” Johnson (17-0, 8 KOs) takes on Canada-based Mexican Christopher Guerrero (16-0, 9 KOs) at welterweight.
Plus, Deric Davis (11-0, 10 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland, and Carlos Ramos (18-4-1, 10 KOs) of Spain by way of Ecuador, square off at lightweight.
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Nichole Milanovich, age 30, passed away on July 1, 2026.
Family and friends are welcome on Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 3 to 10 p.m., at Slone & Co. Life Celebration Center 3556 W. 130th St. Cleveland, OH 44111, where a Service will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11 a.m. Interment Brooklyn Heights Cemetery.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Thousands of FirstEnergy customers are experiencing power outages during Wednesday’s excessive heat.
The majority of the outages are located in Lakewood, Berea, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township.
Check for the latest information on FirstEnergy’s power outage website by clicking here.
FirstEnergy release the following statement about the outages:
We understand how disruptive and frustrating a power outage can be — especially during a heat wave — and we sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience as crews work to restore service. The outages in the Olmsted Falls area were caused by a pole fire, along with an equipment issue at a nearby substation. We have restored power to about half of the customers impacted and our crews will be working around the clock to restore power to the remaining customers.
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