With Deshaun Watson ruled out of Week 6′s game against the San Francisco 49ers, who will replace the Cleveland Browns quarterback?

Sunday’s contest will see the Browns turn to another veteran despite already having a backup. Whether that’s the right choice for the team remains to be seen, but it’s the choice that’s been made and with that, we can only wait and watch.

Deshaun Watson ruled out of clash with 49ers

According to reports, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play on Sunday when the Browns host the San Francisco 49ers. Though there was hope that Watson could recover in time for the matchup, having enjoyed a bye week with the Browns in Week 5, it now seems that’s not the case. With that in mind, it will be the second game that the 28-year-old misses due to his injured shoulder, after he missed Week 4′s contest with the Baltimore Ravens. It is understood that Watson missed practice this week on Wednesday and Thursday, with NFL Media having previously reported that he was day-to-day with a rotator cuff contusion.

So, who will replace Deshaun Watson?

One interesting point to note is that the Browns will not be going with Dorian Thompson-Robinson when they meet the Niners on Sunday. The rookie who was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, started Week 4′s game but did not perform well as evidenced by his completion of 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards and three interceptions. Ultimately, the UCLA product was largely ineffective in a game that the Browns lost to the Ravens by a dismal score of 28-3. This of course brings us to the selection of P.J. Walker who will be elevated from the practice squad according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.

“Just felt like it was the right decision for the team,” Stefanski said of making Walker the backup to Watson before Watson was ruled out. “I think PJ’s been here now for a month-plus, getting a better understanding of what we do. But just felt like it was the right decision for the team.”

How did Deshaun Watson get injured?

It was during the third quarter of Cleveland’s Week 3 win against the Tennessee Titans. During a read-option run, Watson lowered his shoulder at the same time that he collided with Titans defensive back Amani Hooker. Though he continued to play after the hit, it was clear that the signal called was not OK. To that end, he was extremely limited during the following week of practice and was eventually listed as out for the game against the Ravens.

“He’s doing everything in his power, working around the clock with rehab,” Stefanski said on Monday. “So, he’s just doing what he’s being told to do in terms of his rehab process.”

Is P.J. Walker the right choice?

In total, P.J. Walker has started seven times in his career and has a further 15 appearances. Prior to his signing with the Browns’ practice squad in August, he had started five games for the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Across that period, the 28-year-old signal caller posted a 2-3 record, while completing 58% of his passes, averaging 134.2 passing yards per game, to the tune of three touchdowns with three interceptions. With the Browns currently sitting on 2-3, now would be a perfect time for Walker to prove his worth.