Don’t expect the Browns to bench Deshaun Watson anytime soon

The expectations heading into Week 2 for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns were relatively low. Cleveland just got destroyed by the Jacksonville Jaguars the week before and Watson looked unplayable. If Watson were to struggle again, it was speculated that Shedeur Sanders could get the call for the Home Opener in Week 3. Well, not anymore.

Cleveland somehow managed to escape with a win against old friend Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. And Watson? Well, he performed adequately, with a final box score that is not necessarily an accurate indicator of how he played on Sunday.

Based on his own performance alone, like it or not, Watson at least earned to start in Week 3. The win extends his margin for error beyond the upcoming contest against the visiting Carolina Panthers. There seems to be a little more to it than that however, as head coach Todd Monken made clear on Monday.

“…I see him as still a very young player that is going to continue to grow” – Todd Monken on Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson

On one hand, it’s encouraging to see a coach stand behind their quarterback. On another, does it have to be this one? Watson on the field has been a disaster, and off of it, has been worse. Perhaps coach Monken would be better served addressing this particular situation from a state of neutrality rather than one of unwavering support.

Also, let’s get something clear real quick , Watson is 31 years old, and that is not in any way young. For non-franchise or elite or even good quarterbacks, they don’t have to worry about their job security in their early thirties.

For a quarterback of Watson’s caliber, it would probably be best to do everything he can to land as a backup somewhere else after the season. That is of course assuming any other team in the league is dumb enough to bring his toxic presence into a locker room. That hasn’t stopped Cleveland and their willingness to possibly extend this disaster pairing beyond this season though.

The harsh reality here is that Monken appears to be all-in on Watson with Shedeur Sanders continuing to be pushed further and further away from the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job. Is that entirely up to Monken? Probably not, considering that of all the possible candidates to replace Kevin Stefanski, the Browns settled on a 60-year-old who has never been an NFL head coach before and hasn’t held that title at any level in over a decade.

Unfortunately for all the Shedorks out there, as long as Watson isn’t playing Jamarcus Russell level football, Sanders will have to continue to wait for an opportunity. Will he actually get one? Possibly, but it’s doubtful to be genuine and more likely just to get everyone to shut up about a fifth-round quarterback with no upside.