Deshaun Watson nonetheless isn’t good after the Cleveland Browns’ first six video games, however Kevin Stefanski continues to be sticking with him. The Browns head coach reiterated as soon as once more that he has no plans to bench the beleaguered quarterback regardless of his ineptitude. However how for much longer can they go on with this, except they’re able to abandon the season?
Already 4 video games underneath .500 and dwelling within the basement of the AFC North, the Browns might very effectively simply do this. Deshaun Watson has been an albatross for the group in a number of methods since buying and selling for him in 2022. They’ve little or no to indicate for it, discovering their biggest success final season when he was out as a result of harm.
The Browns not solely have the worst document within the league, additionally they have the bottom energy of victory. Deshaun Watson has solely crushed the Jacksonville Jaguars, who likewise are 1-5. In case anyone cares, the Steelers have the fourth-best energy of victory.
Stefanski merely replied with a “Sure” when requested after the sport if he would stick to Watson. Final week, he merely stated “No” when requested if he gave any consideration to benching him. “I assumed there have been some good moments”, he provided this time.
The Browns have scored one landing of their final 29 drives. They’ve seven offensive touchdowns all season, and haven’t scored 20 all yr. Below Deshaun Watson, they’re now the primary crew prior to now decade to attain underneath 20 factors within the first six video games of a season.
Extra ineptitude: Deshaun Watson has the bottom first down share per cross try of all quarterbacks making an attempt at the very least 100 passes in any season since 2007, out of 566 such cases. He’s averaging one down on underneath 1 / 4 of his throws, 22.1 p.c. For comparability, Justin Fields entered yesterday’s recreation throwing a primary down on 28.7 p.c of his passes.
At this level, past appearances, the one soccer purpose I can provide you with for the Browns not having the dialog about benching Deshaun Watson is as a result of they consider tanking is the one affordable final result for the 2024 season.
The Browns’ worst document underneath Kevin Stefanski, although, is 7-10, and that was in his first season with Watson. They went 3-3 within the six video games Watson began. Final yr, they went 5-1 within the six video games he began, 11-6 in all, however he was not a significant factor of their success. They thrived on top-of-the-line defenses within the league, primarily.
“We’ve got to do one thing just a little bit [different]”, Watson stated after the sport. “I don’t know what we now have to do, however we now have to do one thing. Lock in so we don’t value ourselves any extra video games, as a result of we’ve obtained to actually flip this round”.
One factor the Browns must stay up for is the presumptive return of RB Nick Chubb. The All-Professional suffered a extreme harm in Week 2 final yr and has not performed since. He began the season on the PUP Record however has resumed working towards. He needs to be activated quickly earlier than his return window closes. But when they’re making an attempt to tank the season with Watson, they could as effectively sit him.