Deshaun Watson’s Struggles Continue to Plague Cleveland Browns in Early Season

The Cleveland Browns are experiencing a troubling start to the NFL season, with quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s performance drawing significant attention and criticism. After three games, Watson’s struggles have been a notable reason for the team’s disappointing record. The Browns’ latest defeat came at the hands of the New York Giants, a team that had yet to secure a win this season and faced its own challenges at the quarterback position.

During the game against the Giants, Watson threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, both season highs for him, but failed to lead the team to victory. “Watson was brought to Cleveland to help the team win, and he’s not doing that,” noted an analyst familiar with the team’s expectations. His inability to produce consistent victories has been a source of frustration for the team and its fans.

Watson’s quarterback rating (QBR) ranks among the lowest in the league, according to ESPN Analytics‘ Seth Walder. Only Bryce Young, who was benched following poor performances, has a lower QBR among qualifying quarterbacks. Young, drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2023, struggled in his initial games and was replaced by Andy Dalton, who led the Panthers to a victory over the Raiders.

This underperformance is particularly concerning given the Browns’ substantial financial investment in Watson. “The Browns sunk a lot of money into Watson, and it hasn’t panned out,” reported CBS Sports. The team’s options for moving away from Watson are limited, as terminating his contract would incur a significant financial penalty.

There have been increasing calls for Watson to be benched in favor of backup quarterback Jameis Winston. While the Browns’ offensive line issues contribute to the team’s struggles, Watson’s tendency to hold onto the ball and miss open receivers compounds the problem. Despite a lack of interceptions in the recent game, his overall performance has been below expectations.

The Browns are set to face another challenge in their Week 4 matchup, with hopes pinned on improving their record. However, unless Watson’s play improves, speculation about his status as the team’s starter is likely to persist. The team’s disappointing start follows a period of optimism, with expectations for Watson to rebound from previous setbacks and lead the Browns to a competitive season.