The Cleveland Browns will have to do without Deshaun Watson for eleven games. Head coach Kevin Stefanski emphasised that they trust backup Jacoby Brissett completely. But is the plan working?

Munich/Cleveland – The risk is great, the danger cannot be denied.

The Cleveland Browns, however, are consciously taking the chance of flushing a season and 46 million dollars down the toilet. Because that’s how much quarterback Deshaun Watson will get in 2022, despite missing eleven games. Had he been suspended for the entire season, the contract would have been pushed back to 2023. He would have collected only one million in 2022 instead.

But Watson and the Browns now at least have clarity with the compromise of sitting out eleven games instead of six.

Deshaun Watson: Comeback against his former team

For Watson, that means he won’t be used in the preseason, can still practice until August 30, may return to the practice field on October 10 and resume practice starting November 14. The quarterback returns to the field in Week 13 on Dec. 4 – ironically against his former team, the Houston Texans.

For the Browns, that means they’ll have to rely on backup Jacoby Brissett a little longer. “We’re sticking to our plan moving forward,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We’re pretty happy with how we’re working right now because we know we’re going to get Deshaun back after 11 games.”

The big question: is the season possibly over at that point? Opponents until Watson returns: five 2021 playoff teams, specifically the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cleveland Browns: Ambitious Opponents

In addition, ambitious teams such as the Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins await, for the opener the Carolina Panthers, with whom former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield should be particularly motivated. Other opponents: the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons.

Another problem: After Watson’s return, it doesn’t get any easier on paper: After the Texans, it’s against the Bengals, Ravens, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders and the Steelers.

There’s no question that even with Watson, who played his last NFL game in early 2021, the season wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion, but with Brissett, playing time is an even bigger question mark.

His record as a starter: two seasons (2017 and 2019) with the Indianapolis Colts with a 4-11 and 7-8 record. Overall, he comes in with 14 wins and 23 losses.

Scary is different. A typical backup and not a franchise quarterback, but for the Browns now the hopeful to keep the season alive.

High confidence in Jacoby Brissett

The Browns aren’t fazed – at least not on the outside. “We are looking forward to Jacoby and have great confidence in him,” Stefanski stressed.

He recalls phone calls surrounding the signing of Brissett, “with people he’s played for, played with, and it was always said we were getting a full pro,” Stefanski said. “He’s someone who takes charge from the start, works very hard on himself and is a great teammate.”

It’s still a risk.