Quarterback Deshaun Watson has had a brutal first two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. His third year on the team started off with more of the same on Sunday.
The former three-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans went just 24-45 for 169 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for a 51.1 passer rating during the Browns 33-17 loss against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.
Watson was historically ineffective on pass attempts that travelled at least 15 yards.
The former first-round pick made three straight Pro Bowls with the Texans from 2018-20 while missing just one game. Watson then missed the entire 2021 season and was traded to the Browns in March 2022 amid his sexual assault and sexual harassment scandal involving more than two dozen female massage therapists. Watson signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract with Cleveland (the largest in NFL history) as well.
The Clemson product served an 11-game suspension to start the 2022 season and has looked nothing like the former star he was in Houston since returning.
Watson played six contests in 2022 following the suspension and six games last year after battling multiple injuries before finally being shut down for the season in November.
The Browns have gone 8-5 in his 13 career starts with the franchise but have won largely thanks to their defense.
Watson has recorded a 59.1 completion percentage for 2,386 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 78.1 passer rating with Cleveland.
The team made a surprise run to the playoffs last winter, buoyed by the stunning renaissance of quarterback Joe Flacco.
Both Flacco and defensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt departed in the offseason (to the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots), and stud running back Nick Chubb has opened the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Watson still has five-time Pro Bowl wideout Amari Cooper and newcomer Jerry Jeudy (a former first-round pick) as offensive weapons, plus 2023 first-time Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku. The latter suffered an ankle injury in Week 1, however, and could be facing an extended absence.
Watson and company will look to get back on track in Week 2 when they travel to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
