BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Taking down the best team in football Sunday afternoon just got more difficult.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites as the shorthanded Browns try to figure out a way to pull off an improbable upset in Week 6.
Watson out – As expected, the Browns ruled quarterback Deshaun Watson out for the 49ers Friday morning. “He's making progress,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He's working very hard, but just wasn't ready to get to the level where he could practice and be effective just yet. But he's making progress.” Watson hasn’t seen a practice field since September 29 when he was very limited. “Well, practicing limited was not a lot of throws,” Stefanski said. “It was more from a handoff variety. So, as you guys know, not to rehash the week, but went through the week, felt like we could get to Sunday. But I think what the reminder is to all of us is you have to treat the injury. Not everything's the same. So based on how he's feeling, based on what he's able to do, is really that's guiding his rehab and guiding our decisions.” The last time Watson had a full practice was the 22nd after suffering a right rotator cuff contusion in a 27-3 victory over the Titans on September 24. Three weeks into the injury, the Browns insist Watson is day-to-day. “I know what he's made of,” Stefanski said. “I know how badly he wants to be out there. I know how badly he wants to compete. I've seen him play through injuries. I mean, he's a very tough individual, so he's pushing through it. He's going to be out there as soon as he's ready.”
Walker in – Veteran P.J. Walker will be elevated for the second time from the practice squad so he can start for Watson Sunday afternoon. Walker leapfrogs Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the assignment after the rookie struggled mightily in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens on October 1. Walker has started seven of the 15 games he has appeared in over three years with Carolina where he has completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,461 yards with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Five of those starts came last season for the Panthers.
Streak ends – All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio’s regular season games started and consecutive snaps streaks are over. Bitonio had started 102 consecutive games and not missed a snap for 6,846 consecutive plays during the regular season but a knee injury has kept him off the practice field all week and he has been ruled out for Sunday. “We always trust our backups to get in there and do their job,” Stefanski said. “Joel's not available this week, so expect Michael Dunn to do his job.” Dunn will start for Bitonio against San Francisco’s potent pass rushers. “[I] never thought the day would come where Joel was not only going to be missing a regular season game, but a snap,” Dunn said. “I'm as shocked as everybody else. You have to hear that he's going to have to miss this game, but I know he is working his ass off to get back and I'm excited for him to get back when he does.”