Quarterback Deshaun Watson is scheduled to start in the Browns’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars Friday night at 7 p.m. ET, Cleveland announced Wednesday.
Most Browns starters will play Friday night, a decision that was made earlier this week but was not made public by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski until he told the team. This is a deviation from last year when Stefanski played very few starters in the first two preseason games.
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Watson’s status for this upcoming season is uncertain as the NFL is appealing the six-game suspension handed to Watson, who was accused by at least two dozen women of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The league is seeking an indefinite suspension that would last a minimum of one year, a source told The Athletic.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell selected former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to hear the appeal and the NFLPA has filed a reply on behalf of Watson.
The Browns have split reps at quarterback through training camp and Stefanski has said that will remain the plan until there is a final decision regarding Watson’s availability this season. Watson has received every first rep in practice, but if the appeal decision comes before Friday, that could change.
Earlier this month Judge Sue L. Robinson issued her ruling on Watson and recommended a six-game suspension. Robinson’s proposed discipline came after more than a month of deliberation following a three-day hearing from June 28 to 30.
Ahead of Robinson’s decision, the NFLPA said it would stand by her ruling and called on the NFL to do the same.
Watson’s six-game suspension would make him eligible to play in Week 7 when the Browns play the Baltimore Ravens. That would leave Jacoby Brissett first in line to be the Browns’ starting quarterback after the franchise decided early in the offseason it was moving on from Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in 2018 and the team’s starting quarterback the last four seasons.
Watson has been in training camp with the Browns since July 23 and has been first in every line and every huddle since the team’s first spring practice in May.
Thus far, there’s been no real change in the quarterback order or workload at Browns camp. The Browns feel there’s still plenty of time to get Brissett ready for the season opener and what they hope is not the entire season.
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If an appeal ruling is made before Friday and Watson is suspended indefinitely, then he won’t be eligible to play in training camp or any preseason games. That — or a ruling of, say, 12 games — would lead the Browns to explore outside quarterback options and reassess their entire plan for the position. But thus far, there’s been no indication that the Browns have an imminent plan B outside of Brissett becoming the starter and Josh Dobbs moving from third to second in the quarterback line.
(Photo: Ken Blaze / USA Today)