Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said P.J. Walker will start for quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday when the Browns (4-2) visit the Seattle Seahawks (4-2). Watson continues to deal with a strained right shoulder, the injury which has already cost him three games; he initially hurt it on on a running play against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 27. Stefanski made the announcement before Wednesday’s practice, and said Watson won’t practice this week to focus on his rehab.
Watson returned to practice last week for the first time; although he was listed as questionable, he started Sunday’s 39-38 win at Indianapolis, but left after taking a hit on his fifth pass attempt.He said Watson did not sustain any additional damage to his shoulder in the brief outing against the Colts. Stefanski said Watson has “residual swelling” in his shoulder; however, there has been no consideration for surgery. Watson underwent another MRI on Monday, and Stefanski said the results came back clean.
The 28-year-old Watson said last week he has “microtears” in his rotator cuff, an injury that normally takes up to six weeks to heal. He missed the Browns Oct. 1 loss to Baltimore, and then following Cleveland’s bye week, he sat out the Browns/San Francisco game.
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