Browns announce Watson will start vs. Jaguars -- if he isn't suspended first
Aug. 10—Browns coach Kevin Stefanski a week ago hinted Deshaun Watson would start against the Jaguars on Aug. 12, and now the team has made those plans official.
The Browns on Aug. 10 announced Watson will start in the 7 p.m. kickoff and that "the majority of starters will get some action" at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The NFL, however, could force Stefanski to change his plans concerning Watson.
If Peter C. Harvey announces before game-time that Watson should be suspended indefinitely and not less than one full year for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, Watson's ban could begin at that moment.
Harvey, hand-picked by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Aug. 4 to hear the league's appeal of Watson's original six-game suspension recommended by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, has had since Aug. 5 when he received a written brief from the players' union to determine a punishment for Watson. The CBA says is decision is binding, but the union could still try to sue the NFL in federal court.
The situation will be different if Harvey announces a specific number of games Watson should be banned for alleged sexual misconduct with 24 massage therapists in 2020 and 2021 when he played for the Texans. In that case, Watson would be permitted to practice and play in preseason games until the final cutdown on Aug. 30.
Watson has not played since the final game of the Texans' 2020 season. He did not play in any of Houston's 2021 preseason games and he did not play at all in Houston's 2021 season.
Watson demanded a trade in January 2021. The Texans tried unsuccessfully to peddle him but could not find any takers because of the civil lawsuits pending against Watson. He has since settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits.
Regardless how long Watson plays, assuming the league doesn't sabotage the plan, Jacoby Brissett will also play against the Jaguars.
Since the players' union did not appeal Robinson's recommendation, Brissett will start the first six games of the regular season, assuming he stays healthy and isn't a complete disaster. Nevertheless, at this point of training camp, Watson has gotten most of the playing time with the first team.
"I'm confident in our plan," Stefanski said on Aug. 8. "Obviously, we will adjust based on information. I'm comfortable in what Jacoby has done to date with his reps. He's gotten a lot of them. He's gotten some with the ones and some with the twos, and we will stick to our plan absent any new information."
Players recovering from injuries will not play against the Jaguars. That would include right tackle Jack Conklin and starting cornerback Denzel Ward, who remains on P.U.P. with a foot injury.
In other news, the Browns announced have placed return specialist/wide receiver Jakeem Grant on injured reserve. Grant suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in practice Aug. 8. He is expected to undergo surgery soon.
