The Cleveland Browns won't have Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback for the Week 4 divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
According to multiple reports, the Browns have ruled Watson out the divisional matchup.
Josina Anderson of CBS first broke the news, later confirmed by Brad Sainbrook of ESPN and echoed by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
I’m told it’s been determined entering* the game vs the #Ravens that #Browns QB Deshaun Watson is not playing, per source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 1, 2023
Watson had been limited in practices earlier this week and the Browns are opting for giving him some more time to rehab his shoulder instead of risking a setback.
The Cleveland Browns initially listed QB Deshaun Watson as "questionable" for Sunday last Friday, and it's looking like his availability was coming down to a "game-time decision," per James Palmer of NFL Network. That is what ultimately got confirmed early on Sunday with the Browns finally ruling him out of the contests against Baltimore.
Watson was expected to play, but according to reports emerging late Saturday, the Browns coaches planned to make the final decision right before kick-off and during pregame warmups in order to have a better idea of where the player stood and how his damaged shoulder felt.
In another bizarre news, the Browns might not have their starting tight end available on Sunday following injuries sustained by David Njoku on Friday.
Njoku is questionable after he suffered "burn injuries to his face and arm during a household accident," per Jake Trotter of ESPN. This development, contrary to the one involving Watson, has seen no further updates as of 11 a.m. ET when the news about Watson's unavailability became known.
According to Trotter, Njoku was "trying to light a fire pit Friday night." The Browns would use a combination of Jordan Akins and Harrison Bryant if Njoku misses Week 4.
Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for the Browns against the Ravens in Week 4 with veteran P.J. Walker, who was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday, backing the freshman up in case he also falls down injured throughout the game.
We will update this story if/when more information becomes available.