Seahawks will not face Deshaun Watson after all in preseason Week 3
By Lee Vowell
Poor Deshaun Watson. He has a sore arm. He needs to not practice. That must be tough for an NFL quarterback who doesn't throw that many high-level passes in training camp and hasn't played in the preseason. Just imagine if Watson was a baseball pitcher. He'd never make it.
According to Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, Watson will not participate against the Seattle Seahawks in preseason Week 3 due to having "arm soreness." Not that 12s should care too much about that, of course, as Seattle does not play the Browns during the 2024 regular season. Still, Watson's presence in the final preseason game might have been a good challenge for Seattle's defense.
Geno Smith of the Seahawks is expected to play still versus the Browns, though. In fact, most of Seattle's starters should play, though just how much is not known. The Browns have a good defense and one that is different from Seattle's so Smith, DK Metcalf, and friends should have a decent test to help them prepare for the regular season.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play against the Seattle Seahawks in preseason Week 3
Likely, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald's defense doesn't need much more work. The coach did play his defensive starters in preseason Week 1. While that was against a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, LA did have most of its presumed starting offensive linemen playing so Macdonald got a decent look at how his defense might perform when the real games begin.
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That first preseason game might also have factored into Stefanski's decision not to play Watson against Seattle. Cleveland is also going to be without their starting left tackle. Facing a Seahawks defense with Uchenna Nwosu on one side and Boye Mafe on the other might have formed Stefaniski's decision to hold out Watson. It is not worth risking the quarterback to injury.
Because Watson will not play, one might wonder how long Macdonald will play his defensive starters. The unit has already faced one backup quarterback and there's no reason to face another. Seattle's defense should dominate early in preseason Week 3.
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