Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson missed his second game in three weeks on Sunday.
The Browns didn’t need him, however, as they picked up a surprising win against the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers.
Watson suffered what the team called a shoulder contusion on his throwing arm in a Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans. After saying he would play the following week, Watson remained on the sidelines for a Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Entering their Week 5 bye week, the team and Watson remained adamant that he would play against 49ers. But that didn’t come to pass, either, as Watson missed an entire week of practice.
“Deshaun Watson is dealing with a deep rotator cuff contusion that has made it difficult for him to drive the football when he throws, but there is a belief that the Browns’ QB could be ready to play as soon as next Sunday against the Colts, per sources,” ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
On Sunday, Schefter got specific about what’s plaguing Watson.
“To be specific on Deshaun Watson’s shoulder injury, it’s the subscapularis muscle, per source,” he wrote. As long as it’s affected, it hinders his ability to throw the football.”
The NFL world was quick to react to the surprising Watson update:
The subscapularis muscle is one of the four rotator cuff muscles; it is the largest / strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It is essential for shoulder movement and shoulder joint stability. #ClevelandBrowns https://t.co/ygXbmW0NqL pic.twitter.com/1xyyybGiMI
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) October 15, 2023
Baseball pitchers know this injury well. Seems like the prognosis actually is all over the map if this is the correct diagnosis. https://t.co/eW0a70YMzS
— Gage (@GageEHC) October 15, 2023
The fact that people are disagreeing with ACTUAL DOCTORS, is hilarious. This injury is stopping him from throwing the ball which is crucial for a QB
Some of you have never played a sport and it shows. Talking about "toughness" yet your body is built by Charmin #DawgPound #Browns https://t.co/qGx3IYMkXK
— Andrew Hagenbaugh (@DrewHagenbaugh) October 15, 2023
#Browns
I'm still confused as to why Kevin Stefanski said that Watson was medically cleared and then this week Jeff Howe said Watson wasn't cleared.Stefanski is terrible. No matter the outcome out the season. He needs to go. https://t.co/6q147gKRtM
— Ken Dorsey is a better play-caller than Stefanski (@Purefactsspitt1) October 15, 2023
Hopefully it hinders his abilities to DM massage therapists on IG, too https://t.co/r5bHIw8qx7
— Cory (@Substituted_) October 15, 2023
