Did Kevin Stefanski Make the Final Call on Deshaun Watson’s Playing Status?
As the Cleveland Browns gear up for their next face-off against the Ravens, there’s more than just lineup news creating a buzz. The team received a boost with the return of a key lineman and saw head coach Kevin Stefanski announce some game-changing decisions. But the Browns are still contending with one burning question: who was truly responsible for keeping Deshaun Watson on the field before his Achilles injury?
Watson’s season was abruptly cut short last week, ending with a devastating Achilles tear. Head coach Stefanski took responsibility for the call to keep Watson playing, as he explained in a statement to ESPN.
“I make decisions for our football team,” Stefanski said, adding, “But I obviously consult with (Browns GM) Andrew (Berry). We talk about everything that goes on with our football team, but ultimately, it’s my decision.”
As fans continue to debate the risks and rationale behind that choice, all eyes remain on the Browns’ leadership. For Cleveland, the ripple effects of this decision might resonate far beyond this season.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski forced into defensive mode
Was Kevin Stefanski Alone in Deciding to Keep Deshaun Watson as the Starter?
As the Cleveland Browns prepare for their next matchup, head coach Kevin Stefanski faces scrutiny over his role in keeping Deshaun Watson on the field before the quarterback’s season-ending Achilles injury. While Stefanski openly took responsibility for the decision, he left some room for speculation regarding whether ownership had any influence.
When asked if ownership played a part in keeping Watson as the starter, Stefanski was tight-lipped. “I wouldn’t get into all the specifics,” he said. “I think you guys know that we make great decisions together. I obviously talk to Andrew [Berry, Browns GM] about everything we do. We talk to ownership about everything we do. That’s just how we operate.”
Multiple team sources confirmed to ESPN that the decision to continue playing Watson had organization-wide support. Yet, as Watson struggled to find solutions for the team’s mounting issues, the weight of the situation seemed to settle heavily on him.
“being the quarterback of this offense with Kevin and [offensive coordinator] Ken [Zampese], we have to do something… I don’t know what we have to do, but we need to do something to lock in so we don’t cost ourselves any more games,” Watson admitted. “We’ve really got to turn this around.”
As the Browns seek to move forward without their starting quarterback, questions linger about the collective decisions that led to this point and the strategies they’ll employ to salvage the season.
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