Browns Considered Slight Favorite Ahead Of Week 7 Matchup With Colts

While the Browns wait for word on Deshaun Watson's status, Indianapolis will be without rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson Week 7

Another week of "Deshaun Watson shoulder watch" is underway from Berea, as the Cleveland Browns return to practice on Wednesday with the quarterback's status still considered "day-to-day."

Even with the uncertainty around Watson's availability, Cleveland enters the week as a 1.5 point road favorite against the Indianapolis Colts, according to the SI Sportsbook. 

Ironically, the Colts are dealing with a quarterback who has an injured shoulder too, as rookie Anthony Richardson was placed on the IR last week with an AC joint ailment. His placement on the IR means he's already been ruled out for Sunday, which means the Browns will be facing veteran backup Gardner Minshew on Sunday.

Similar to last week, expect the line to fluctuate based on any announcements from Cleveland on Deshaun Watson's status for the game. Initially, the line ahead of the 49ers matchup reflected San Francisco as field goal favorites on the road. However, as updates came out about Watson's shoulder and reality set in that he would not be playing, the line actually ballooned to nearly double-digits prior to kickoff.

It goes without saying that the Browns would obviously prefer to have Watson out there for every game. That said, even with the possibility of PJ Walker starting under center for a second consecutive week, odds-makers appear to be paying a ton of respect to the Browns defense, fresh off of its dismantling of one the best offenses in football.

Still, the Colts are hardly a team to take likely, despite their status as a team in rebuild mode. At 3-3, they're only a few weeks removed from an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens, a game Minshew also started for Indy.