Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski reveals why Deshaun Watson walked off in the middle of NFL game

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has lifted the lid on the chaos that led to Deshaun Watson walking off the field midway through Sunday’s loss to the Commanders.   The Browns’ dismal start to the season continued when they were taken apart by a Washington side inspired by Jayden Daniels.

Stefanski was left in disbelief at his own quarterback, when Watson left the huddle and made his way to the sidelines during the third quarter.  Down 21 on 4th-and-goal, the head coach made the call to keep the offense on the field in a desperate attempt for Cleveland to claw its way back into the contest.  Moments later, however, Watson was off the field and the Browns had resorted to kicking a field goal.

Browns star Deshaun Watson walked off the field on a fourth-down play during Sunday’s game

Watson had appeared to defy his coach, who removed his headset in frustration before covering his mouth and speaking to his quarterback.  Many NFL fans on social media accused the 29-year-old of effectively quitting on his team.  Later, Stefanski explained that it was a blunder by the Browns that led to Watson leaving the field.  ‘We had the wrong amount of people in the huddle, and then at that point, we were just going to kick the field goal,’ he said.

‘Obviously we had penalties and some miscommunications which are completely on me. I’ll take responsibility for all of that. That looks like losing football to me, I’ll get it fixed.’  When it was pointed out that the Browns had 12 men on the field several times, Stefanski conceded: ‘It is really frustrating, we will get that fixed. Before we beat anybody (else), you have to stop beating yourself… we need to play better as an offense, we need to coach better as an offense.’

In his own postgame press conference, Watson lamented how Cleveland continues to be the architects of its own downfall.  ‘We shoot ourselves in the foot. It is tough,’ the quarterback said. ‘The offense is going to go as far as I go… so, at the end of the day, we’re not doing enough offensively. We have got to figure it out quickly.’

On the blunder that led to him leaving him the field, he added: ‘Too many men on the huddle and that was it. We just have got to lock in, that’s all I can say right now.’   Watson has regularly made headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years.  The 29-year-old was traded to the Browns for six draft picks, including three first rounders, in 2022 – despite being sued by more than two dozen female massage therapists for sexual harassment and sexual assault the year before.  Since the trade, he has signed a five-year, $230 million deal, all of which is guaranteed.

Watson has been embroiled in various court cases over the past three seasons, previously reaching confidential settlements with 20 women over sexual misconduct lawsuits that saw him suspended for 11 NFL games during the 2022 season.   Last month, it was revealed that he is being sued for more than $1million by a new woman, who has accused him of sexually assaulting her in Texas four years ago. Watson ‘strongly denies’ the allegations.

On the field, meanwhile, the Browns are now 1-4 after a woeful start to the season. Cleveland will face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road next week.  After Watson left the field on Sunday, the Browns were forced to take a delay penalty and to settle for a field goal, making the score 24-6.  If they had converted the touchdown attempt – as Stefanski wanted – the Browns could have made it a two-score game.

Tempers reportedly flared between Stefanski and Watson during Sunday’s game, with quarterback and coach seen yelling at each other several times during the 34-13 loss.   According to ESPN’s ratings, Watson is the worst-performing quarterback in the NFL. And after another dismal afternoon for Cleveland, Stefanski addressed his future as the starter.  ‘We’re not changing quarterbacks, he said. ‘We need to play better. I need to coach better. That’s really what it is.’

A three-yard touchdown run from Jeremy McNichols, followed by a Austin Seibert field goal saw Washington establish a dominant 34-6 lead at the end of the third.  Cleveland did eventually managed to find the end zone in the fourth quarter when Watson found Jordan Akins with a ten-yard pass but it came a little too late as the Commanders walked away with the 34-13 win.   Last month, some Browns fans called for Watson to be benched after the sexual assault allegations emerged.

‘Every week for the past 3 years Deshaun Watson has looked like the worst QB in the NFL and there are still people that claim he’s just a little rusty,’ one fan wrote .   ‘Legitimately not sure there are 5 starting QBs in the league worse than Deshaun Watson,’ another added .   ‘The Browns and Deshaun Watson deal is the worst deal in history and I’m positive it will never be topped,’ said a third.

Former quarterback Warren Moon, meanwhile, claimed Watson’s on-field struggles are linked to his off-field drama.  ‘He’s still dealing with a lot of that c**p that he dealt with a couple of years ago with the lawsuits and all that,’ Moon told TMZ. ‘And now, all of the sudden, another lawsuit comes up.   ‘It seems like just when he’s starting to maybe get his career back on track from getting over the lawsuits – and then the injuries that he’s had the last couple years -here comes another one.’  Moon added: ‘It seems like every time he goes out on the field he’s playing with a heavy mind and he’s not able to focus on the game.’