NFL head coaches loathe distractions, but Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is dealing with a major one in Week 2.
Several days after Deshaun Watson was accused of a vicious sexual assault four years ago, he will start at quarterback when the Browns visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.
Stefanski said the organization never considered having Watson sit out against Jacksonville.
“We’ll let due process play out and follow the NFL guidelines,” Stefanski said Wednesday. “We are 100 percent focused on Jacksonville, 100 percent focused on going on the road against a good football team and trying to find a way to get a ‘W.'”
The latest incident involving Watson overshadows a contest between two teams that lost their opening game of the season.
The Jaguars dropped a 20-17 decision to the host Miami Dolphins for their sixth setback in the past seven regular-season games. The Browns were beaten 33-17 by the visiting Dallas Cowboys as Watson was intercepted twice and sacked six times while passing for 169 yards and one touchdown.
One day after Cleveland’s dismal loss, a civil suit was filed Monday in Houston, alleging that Watson exposed himself and sexually assaulted a woman in her home.
During Watson’s time with the Houston Texas, he faced 24 claims of sexual misconduct from women, stemming from massage sessions. All but one of the cases were settled out of court, with the last one still pending. The NFL suspended him for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined him $5 million.
Just as he did in the previous cases, Watson denied the latest accusation. He said he is focused on the upcoming game.
“I focus on keeping the main thing the main thing,” Watson said of football. “That’s when I walk into this building, focusing on being the best quarterback that I can be, on the game plan and trying to be better than we were last week so we can get a ‘W.'”
Browns star defensive Myles Garrett said Friday that the teams is rallying around Watson.
“We’ll continue to have his back completely and help him get through everything he’s dealing with,” Garrett said. “He’s had a lot of different personal hardships currently and we’re going to be there for him as much as we can and be that shoulder to lean on and we’ll take care of him as brothers on Sunday.”
Jacksonville also will be seeking improvement after letting a 17-7 halftime lead get away against the Dolphins.
The Jaguars failed on all five of their third-down conversion attempts in the second half and had just one first down in the fourth quarter.
“We’re better than how we finished,” Jaguars tight end Evan Engram said. “We feel like we’re a great team and we’re going to work to be a great team. But great teams finish.”
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 162 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-21 passing.
Lawrence said he has put the Miami loss in the rearview mirror and doesn’t want to see the Jags fall into a 0-2 hole.
“Don’t get too high or too low,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “You can’t be down in the dumps too much and beat yourself up and let it affect your confidence.”
The big challenge for the Jaguars is rebounding quickly. They open the season by playing four consecutive 2023 playoff teams. The following two games are both on the road, against the Buffalo Bills on a Monday night and the Houston Texans.
Garrett is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 14 sacks and four fumble recoveries last season. He missed Thursday’s practice with a foot injury but was back on the field Friday and is set to play.
The Browns will be without tight end David Njoku, who injured an ankle in a loss to the Cowboys. Stefanski said the club is hopeful Njoku can avoid being placed on injured reserve.
Cleveland did put five defensive players on IR this week — defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (ankle), linebackers Tony Fields II (ankle) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip), safety Juan Thornhill (calf) and cornerback Myles Harden (shin).
Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin is listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis in all three practices this week. He hasn’t played since sustaining a serious injury to his right knee in the 2023 season opener. Another starting offensive tackle, Jedrick Wills (knee), was ruled out.
Jacksonville cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve on Thursday. Cornerback Darnell Savage (quadricep) will sit out, while defensive end Tyler Lacy (toe) and linebacker Caleb Johnson (back) are questionable.
The Jaguars lead the series 12-7, but the Browns have won the past two. Last season, Cleveland never trailed while notching a 31-27 home victory in Week 14.
