Deshaun Watson Absent From Practice as Browns Return from Bye Week

After sitting out Week Four with a shoulder injury, Cleveland Browns quarterback, Deshaun Watson was not on the practice field on Monday as the team returned to the field following its bye week.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watson was working inside while the rest of the team was outside. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson and six-year veteran PJ Walker were seen taking quarterback reps at practice.

Other #Browns not practicing today are Ethan Pocic, Joel Bitonio and David Njoku.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 9, 2023

It's unclear what exactly "practicing inside" entails for the Browns starting signal caller. Regardless, his absence at the start of the week is ominous, particularly after general manager Andrew Berry expressed during the bye week that the team didn't anticipate the shoulder injury being a long-term situation.

Following practice, head coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn't get into specifics on Watson's rehab but said they're the situation as "day-to-day." Watson was technically medically cleared to play back in Week Four but it was determined he couldn't effectively do his job.

"The piece that's important is 'medically cleared' versus 'functionally able to do your job," Stefanski said. With all of our guys working through an injury you need to be able to functionally perform and Deshaun is working very hard in his rehab to get back to 100-percent...He's getting better."

Stefanski went on to say he still feels good about the shoulder structurally being okay.

Without Watson against the Ravens, Cleveland's offense struggled mightily to move the football against Baltimore with Thompson-Robinson under center. The fifth round pick was 19-of-36 passing, for 121 yards and three interceptions in a 28-3 loss.

Additionally, Cleveland converted only four of their 16 third down attempts, made just two trips to the red zone and gained a meager 166 yards of total offense.

If Watson is unable to go this weekend, the task of taking down the undefeated San Francisco 49ers gets even harder. San Francisco is coming off of a 41-10, Sunday Night Football beat down of the Dallas Cowboys and boast one of the best defenses in football, led by linebacker Fred Warner and pass rusher Nick Bosa.

Along with Watson, Ethan Pocic, Joel Bitonio and David Njoku were all not seen at practice.