Browns coach Stefanski stands by Watson as the struggling quarterback's struggles continue

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Deshaun Watson's $230 million contract is guaranteed. It seems to be his job too.

Watson failed to lead Cleveland to an offensive touchdown, he failed to lead Cleveland to its first 20-point game, he failed to give Cleveland even a glimmer of hope of turning the season around.

None of the embattled QB's footballing weaknesses – let alone his high profile legal questions – are enough to convince coach Kevin Stefanski that he needs to make a change.

Watson is Cleveland's quarterback. End of debate.

After the Browns' 20-16 loss When he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Stefanski left no wiggle room when asked if Watson would remain QB1 ahead of next week's game against Cincinnati.

“Yes,” Stefanski said.

Watson finished 16 of 23 for 168 yards and missed a chance for a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter when he was forced out of bounds on a scramble at the 2-yard line. He then threw an incomplete on third down, forcing the Browns to settle for a field goal. They didn't get the ball back.

“I thought there were some good moments,” Stefanski said. “You know, we have to protect. We have to keep it clean if we can. That's a good front. I thought the boys were fighting like crazy. Had some good chances there, but had to find a way to be more explosive.”

The QB situation is almost unlikely given Watson's unsightly stats – a quarterback rating of 76.6 and near the bottom of the league in every major category.

It's easy to ask yourself: Is Stefanski just stubborn? Or will he be pressured by team owner Jimmy Haslam to make another costly mistake for the Browns because of the eye-catching contract?

The Browns appear to have no chance of repeating the playoff run they made last year behind then-backup Joe Flacco. Is former first-round pick and current backup Jameis Winston really the answer?

“Where are we? We're 1-5,” Stefanski said. “We own it and we're not going to hide from it. I own it. I'm 1-5. The whole locker room. We're all 1-5. But I know “What kind of group we have. We have fighters and we will be back next week ready to fight.”

The Browns' problems as a franchise go beyond their past records. Watson's contract — he still has two years left and hits a salary cap hit of $72.9 million each year — could be among the worst in NFL history, tying them to a quarterback who is a disgrace off the field and on it was a disaster.

The QB was suspended for the first 11 games of 2022 for violating the league's conduct rules after more than two dozen women accused him of doing so sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage therapy sessions.

Watson was fined $5 million and had to undergo mandatory counseling before being reinstated into the league. This week he settled the latest civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman alleging sexual assault and assault.

He was 11 of 12 for 122 yards in the second half on Sunday, but has never thrown for 200 yards in a game this season.

“It’s right in our hands and we’re not taking it away,” Watson said. “Yes, the chances are good.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni tried to favor Watson, saying the QB could still be as good as he was in his prime.

“I’ve seen Deshaun Watson as Superman before,” Sirianni said.

I guess the Eagles were his kryptonite.

The Browns are the first team since Jacksonville in 2014 to score fewer than 20 points in each of their first six games. Those Jaguars finished 3-13.

Cleveland scored its only touchdown a blocked field goal. Watson was sacked three times and threw for just 49 yards in the first half.

“I don’t know what we have to do, but we have to do something,” Watson said. “Join us so we don’t cost ourselves any more games because we really need to turn things around.”

The only thing that could help?

Put Watson on the bench.

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