Deshaun Watson is set to make his regular season return as the Cleveland Browns face the Jacksonville Jaguars in their opening clash on Sunday for Week 1. The Browns will tackle two away games, starting with the Jaguars and followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. The coaching staff will soon decide if Watson starts at home against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. This decision follows Watson’s preseason experience where he faced boos in Cleveland.
The Browns offensive lineup has been affected by an injury to starting right guard Tevon Jenkins
, head coach Todd Monken announced. Jenkins will miss the Jaguars game due to a back injury. Austin Barber, picked in the third round of the current draft, is set to step in at right guard. Additionally, Cleveland will field two rookies on the offensive line. Alongside Barber, Spencer Fano, a first-round draft pick, will start at left tackle.
Confidence remains high for coach Monken, who trusts the capability of the rookies against Jacksonville. “Just the way they’ve practiced, just what I’ve seen every day,” Monken stated via Pro Football Talk. “That’s all you can go by, is what you see every day. And I haven’t seen anything to the contrary that would make me believe that they’re not going to play really, really well and confidently.”
Watson’s mobility may face scrutiny due to the injuries on the front line. His past performance with the Houston Texans showcased better pocket escapes compared to his initial season in Cleveland. Watson, rehabbing from an Achilles injury, must depend heavily on the strength of the offensive line.
In 2024, Watson’s record stood at 1-6 as a starter for the Browns before his Achilles injury. He achieved a 63.4% pass completion rate, throwing for 1,148 yards, with five touchdowns versus three interceptions.