Browns' Watson won't play Week 6 vs. 49ers; Walker to start
The Cleveland Browns won't have Deshaun Watson under center for the second straight game after the quarterback was ruled out of Sunday's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers due to a rotator cuff contusion.
Watson is considered day-to-day and wasn't on the practice field for all three sessions this week. The 28-year-old, who sustained the ailment in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans, also missed Cleveland's loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 and rested during the team's bye in Week 5.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Oct. 2 that Watson was cleared by team doctors to play against the Ravens but chose to sit out after warmup. General manager Andrew Berry later said it was a "very easy decision" to sit Watson in Week 4.
Stefanski recently announced veteran P.J. Walker would replace Watson instead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson. A fifth-round rookie, Thompson-Robinson started versus Baltimore, finishing the game with 19 completions on 36 pass attempts for 121 yards and no touchdowns with three interceptions.
Walker hasn't appeared in a game this season. The 28-year-old made five starts with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, posting three TD passes to three picks.
The 2-2 Browns boast one of the NFL's premier defenses and rank second in points allowed. However, Cleveland - which also lost star running back Nick Chubb for the season in Week 2 - has struggled offensively, averaging only 19 points per game.
The 5-0 49ers are one of only two unbeaten teams left in the NFL this season.