Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been the subject of swirling rumors about his starting status ahead of Week 7 of NFL action. He hasn't been playing well this season, his team is 1-5 with little hope of improving, and the franchise has completely lost its direction.
There isn't much reason for hope in Cleveland, as quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson are unlikely to turn things around. The one glimmer of hope comes from the return of quarterback Nick Chubb, but as long as the former Clemson Tiger is the lead signal-caller, defenses can likely focus fully on stopping their elite RB.
So will Deshaun Watson be benched for the Cleveland Browns in Week 7?
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Will Deshaun Watson Be Benched?
For now, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has committed to Watson remaining as the starting quarterback. It's hard to see this holding for long, though. It's tough to put into words how bad he's been. People watching the games have a pretty good idea, but it might be even worse than they think.
Stefanski was asked "Why not try Jameis as a potential spark?" While this word salad he delivers is impressive, he does end by saying, "Deshaun gives us the best chance to win and continues to give us the best chance to win."
You are losing the locker room, Kevin. pic.twitter.com/Ihdh2e5JJU
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) October 14, 2024
The former Houston Texan is having a historically bad season. His efficiency stats are some of the worst in history, and he's actively stopping his team from winning games. There are multiple backup quarterbacks in the NFL that could likely play better than he could.
New free column: It's time for the Browns to give up on Deshaun Watson, who is off to the worst start in modern league history.
Since 2007, out of 566 passers through six weeks, Watson ranks:
QBR: 558th
Yds/Dropback: 565th
First Down Rate: 566thhttps://t.co/2sRVcLHv8W pic.twitter.com/qTubGAAztL— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 14, 2024
The Browns are now on the receiving end of the worst contract and worst trade in NFL history. The amount of draft capital and guaranteed money they gave up to get him was obscene, it's obscene that they're starting him, and what he did to draw the ire of anyone with empathy around the world was also obscene.
“Deshaun Watson is awful. So awful, that if somebody wanted to arrest him for being awful - I would accept it. He’s that bad.”
- Stephen A Smith
Man. 😞😭 pic.twitter.com/Dv6cRz6kPM
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) October 7, 2024
He won't get benched yet, but he should be. And it may only be a matter of time. It's unclear who's pulling the strings in this decision-making process for the Browns management, but they should rethink their strategy unless they're looking to tank for premier quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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