CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – After missing the previous two games with a rotator cuff strain, Deshaun Watson makes his return for the Browns, who hit the road to take on the Colts in Indianapolis.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for Sunday afternoon at 1.
Watson, who is questionable, has been rusty for eight of the nine starts he’s made for the Browns since being acquired from the Texans in 2022, but he rounded into form against Tennessee before suffering a right rotator cuff strain that included micro tears to some tissue and coast him the last two games. Watson completed 27 of 33 passes for 289 yards with a pair of touchdowns in a 27-3 win over the Titans on September 24 but has rested nearly three weeks. Watson has had success against the Colts in his career throwing for 1,962 yards including eight touchdowns and five interceptions and a passer rating of 100.0 in six games. He’s thrown for 300 yards in all three starts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Will the $230 million QB be ready to roll or be rusty Sunday?
The run game showed a pulse in last week’s win over the 49ers led by Jerome Ford who ran for 84 yards on 17 carries. Kareem Hunt, who started, scored a touchdown, and had 47 more yards on 12 carries. The 160 yards on the ground were the most by the Browns since Week 2 at Pittsburgh. The Colts are without defensive tackle Grover Stewart, who was suspended six games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.
Receiver Amari Cooper is coming off his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and he has had at least 90 receiving yards in three of the last four games. Colts cornerback Kenny Moore looks for a fourth consecutive game with at least six tackles. He had three tackles-for-loss last week while rookie Juju Bents broke up a pair of passes and had his first career interception.
The Browns defense leads the NFL with just 1,002 years allowed – the fewest through five games since 1971, a 23.1% third down conversion rate and the fewest first downs allowed with just 52 – Tampa Bay is second with 94.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has 4.5 sacks in his past three games and he needs a sack to pass Hall of Famer Reggie White (80 sacks) for the most sacks by player prior to his 28th birthday since the NFL began tracking the stat in 1982.
Cleveland’s vastly improved run defense led by defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson will be tested this week as they look to slow Colts rushers Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor. Moss is second in the NFL with 466 yards rushing and has scored a touchdown in four of five games. Taylor, fresh off a new three-year, $42 million contract, is rounding back into form and had 65 scrimmage yards – 19 rushing and 46 on five catches receiving last week.
Dustin Hopkins made 4 of 5 field goals last week and he is 12 of 14 on the season and perfect on PATs. Hopkins is the first Browns kicker to make field goals from 50 or beyond in four consecutive games. With the roof expected to be open, how will the wind and weather affect his kicks?
Last week – Browns beat the 49ers 19-17, Colts lost to the Jaguars 37-20
The last time – October 20, 2020: Browns 32, Colts 23
Series – Tied 15-15
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Browns offense vs. Colts defense:
Scoring: Browns 19.0, Colts 25.3
Total yards: Browns 319.8, Colts 357.2
Passing: Browns 172.8, Colts 243.7
Rushing: Browns 147.0, Colts 113.5
Browns defense vs. Colts offense:
Scoring: Browns 15.4, Colts 23.3
Total yards: Browns 200.4, Colts 345.3
Passing: Browns 121.4, Colts 228.7
Rushing: Browns 79.0, Colts 116.7
Defensive stats
Sacks: Browns 15, Colts 18
Takeaways: Browns 4, Colts 8
Turnover differential: Browns -8, Colts 0
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Dawand Jones, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Deshaun Watson, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Elijah Moore
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – OUT: LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: QB Deshaun Watson (right shoulder), TE Harrison Bryant (hip), RB Kareem Hunt (thigh), CB Greg Newsome (hamstring); EXPECTED TO PLAY: LB Anthony Walker (concussion), WR Amari Cooper (rest/ankle), LG Joel Bitonio (knee), WR Cedric Tillman (hip)
Uniforms – Orange helmet, white jersey, white pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WOIO TV-19 (CBS)
Kickoff –1:03 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis, Indiana
Prediction – Browns 23, Colts 20
Our 2023 record – 2-3