Cleveland Browns Struggle as Deshaun Watson Underperforms Against Washington Commanders

The Cleveland Browns suffered a setback on Sunday, losing to the Washington Commanders with a score of 34-13, a defeat that extended the Browns’ record to 1-4. The game, held in Landover, Maryland, saw yet another challenging performance from quarterback Deshaun Watson. The signal caller managed to throw for just 125 yards, marking the fewest he has accumulated in any game over the past two seasons, excluding games in which he was injured.

Despite successfully passing for one touchdown, the effort came late in the fourth quarter when Cleveland was already trailing by a substantial margin of 28 points. Watson’s overall performance has drawn considerable scrutiny as he continues to remain one of the lowest-performing quarterbacks in the league. He began the week with a quarterback rating of 23.6, ranking last among all qualifying quarterbacks.

Through the first four games, Watson averaged 181.8 yards per game, the sixth lowest among quarterbacks who have played at least four games. Over the five-game stretch this season, he has thrown for five touchdowns but has also recorded three interceptions.

Watson’s decline has been notable since he started playing for the Browns in late 2022. His quarterback ratings did not meet the league average, although he did not qualify for a league ranking due to insufficient playtime in previous seasons.

Beyond the losing record, the Browns are dealing with the financial implications of Watson’s contract. The contract places Watson as the second highest-paid quarterback in terms of guaranteed money, making any potential moves financially exhaustive for Cleveland, as releasing him before June 1 would result in a massive financial penalty.

Adding to the Browns’ woes, other former Cleveland quarterbacks have found success with different teams. Baker Mayfield, previously with the Browns, has thrived with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, achieving a 3-2 record this season with impressive statistics, including 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Joe Flacco, another former Browns quarterback, now with the Indianapolis Colts, has managed to outperform Watson despite playing fewer games.

All these developments come after Watson’s suspension due to his involvement in a sexual assault scandal, which led to his absence throughout the 2021 season and part of the 2022 season. Despite the controversy surrounding Watson, the Browns acquired him in a major trade deal in March 2022, offering what was then the largest contract in NFL history.

Despite the recent loss, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed his support for Watson, stating, “We’re not changing quarterbacks,” following Sunday’s game.