Friday PM Update: Watson has no injury status heading into the weekend and will start on Sunday against the Cardinals.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson is off the injury report and will start on Sunday vs. the Arizona Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/nMdqsCpQik
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 3, 2023
Friday update: Watson is practicing again on Friday and is expected to start on Sunday against the Cardinals. We will get the final injury report this afternoon.
Can’t show routes today but Deshaun Watson took all the reps in the early part open to the media and looks poised to start vs #Cardinals. This won’t show much. pic.twitter.com/LtsaWGc5Ay
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 3, 2023
Thursday update: Watson will continue to practice on Thursday, but isn’t guaranteeing he’ll play this Sunday, per Scott Petrak. He says his return to practice is just part of the process to get hi back out on the field.
The Cleveland Browns will face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9 of the NFL season. The Browns haven’t had starting quarterback Deshaun Watson play a full game since Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans. He has been dealing with a shoulder injury but is back at practice on Wednesday. The expectation is that he will be limited in action as Cleveland eases him back into a full workload.
The Browns did not list Deshaun Watson among the four non-participants on their pre-practice injury report, so we can assume he’ll be a limited participant.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) November 1, 2023
Fantasy football implications for Week 9
Watson has played in only three full games this year. He tried to play in Week 7 but finished 1-of-5 passing for only five yards after it was clear he wasn’t 100%. On the season, Watson has thrown for only 683 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He is not the dual-threat quarterback he used to be. He has added 83 yards and another score on 15 carries.
The Cardinals allow the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Watson has the good matchup, but based on his last start I’d still bench him this week so you don’t risk his playing a quarter and sitting the rest of the way.