News & Views

News: The Browns announce Deshaun Watson will start at quarterback against the Jagwires (yeah, I know) in the exhibition opener Friday night in Jacksonville.

Views: Or will he?

With the distinct possibility of an indefinite suspension hanging in the balance between now and the game, Watson conceivably would have that assignment yanked by the league if arbiter Peter Harvey rules that level of punishment any time before the game.

The league designee is in the midst of deliberating the case of the NFL vs. Watson with regard to the length of punishment the Cleveland quarterback should receive for what the league labeled "egregious and predatory sexual behavior," violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Indefinite suspension requires immediate cessation of any and all activities between Watson and his employer. Harvey's decision is binding and must be adhered to, according to the last Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and Players Association.

But if Harvey fails to reach his decision by game time, or if he does and it is less than an indefinite suspension -- say an extension of 10-12 games rather than the original six-game ban -- Watson plays against the Jags.

Let's be optimistic and say he plays. A few questions arise. 

How long will he play? One series? Two series? One half? What does head coach and playcaller Kevin Stefanski have in store for however long Watson has the huddle?

First, and perhaps most important of all, how many other starters will be in that huddle? Will Watson have pass protection from his starting line? And how many of the very, very average receiving corps will get reps?

First game of the exhibition season and starters generally -- at least that's the way used to be -- don't play as the coaches try to shake out the bottom of the roster. Now that the exhibition season has shrunken to three games, starters usually don't debut earlier than game two.

Let's assume again and say the starters play as long as Watson is in the game. Does Stefanski go conservative and plug in nothing but high percentage plays? Like simple handoffs to Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt? Or high-percentage passes that travel no more than 10 or 15 yards?

After all, this will be Watson's furst game action since he last took a snap on Jan. 23, 2021 in the final game of the 2020 season before the Houston Texans sit him the entire 2021 season due to his off-the-field problems.

That's 586 days between snaps. Unless, that is, Harvey has other ideas.