Cleveland Browns work out QBs AJ McCarron, Josh Rosen while awaiting Deshaun Watson ruling
The Browns know another quarterback is likely to be necessary for them this upcoming season. The uncertainty around Deshaun Watson's availability makes that evident.
On Thursday, the Browns worked out AJ McCarron and Josh Rosen, a person familiar with the team's plans told the Paste BN. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose potential personnel moves. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler first reported the workouts.
McCarron and Rosen are among the quarterbacks Cleveland is looking at to be the fourth one on the roster when training camp gets underway next week. Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Joshua Dobbs all were acquired during the spring.
Rookies report for camp on Friday, with the veterans coming in on Tuesday. The first practice is scheduled for Wednesday.
Once a favorite trade target of former Browns coach Hue Jackson, McCarron has played in 18 games, starting five, over six seasons with the Bengals, Raiders and Texans. He signed with the Falcons a year ago, but tore his ACL during camp.
McCarron's completed 109 of 174 passes (62.6% completion) for 1,173 yards with six touchdowns and three interception in his career. He last played for a team in 2020, when he was Watson's backup in Houston.
A 2014 fifth-round pick for the Bengals out of Alabama, McCarron started four games, including a playoff game against Pittsburgh, for Cincinnati for an injured Andy Dalton in 2015. He went 2-2 in those starts.
McCarron went 23-of-41 for 212 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 18-16 AFC Wild Card loss to the Steelers. He gave Cincinnati a 16-15 lead with 1:50 remaining with a 25-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green but failed to convert the two-point conversion run.
Rosen was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals out of UCLA, the same draft the Browns took Baker Mayfield No. 1. He played in 14 games, starting 13, as a rookie, completing 217 of 393 passes (55.2%) for 2,278 yards with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
After Arizona picked Kyler Murray with the No. 1 pick in 2019, Rosen was traded to Miami for a 2019 second-round and a 2020 fifth-round pick. He played in six games, with three starts, for the Dolphins, completing 58 of 109 passes (53.2%) for 567 yards with one touchdown and five picks.
Rosen, after sitting out the 2020 season, signed with the Falcons after McCarron's ACL injury. He played in four games, completing 2-of-11 passes for 19 yards with two interceptions.
Whether it's McCarron, Rosen or someone else, whoever is signed is likely to be the backup to Brissett during whatever stretch of games Watson may be suspended for during the regular season. Dobbs, who's currently the No. 3 quarterback behind Watson and Brissett, is expected to remain at that spot even in Watson's absence.
Watson and the Browns remain in limbo as they await the decision from disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson regarding any potential violations of the personal conduct policy due to the allegations of sexual misconduct during massages. His three-day hearing ended on June 30, and the post-hearing briefs she requested were submitted by the July 12 deadline.
There's been no timetable established for when Robinson would announce her decision. Reports earlier this week indicated some optimism from Watson and the NFL Players Association's side for a shorter suspension, including Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio quoting a source Monday who had "reviewed the materials submitted" to Robinson putting the range between "two and eight games."
That same day, Yahoo's Charles Robinson reported a federal lawsuit by Watson and the NFLPA is a possibility should a full-year suspension is imposed either by Sue Robinson or, upon appeal, by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, disputed that report in a text to the Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich that stated, “Not that I know of. I can speak for only DW's legal team and we know nothing about it.”
Watson signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million extension with the Browns after he was acquired from Houston in March. The $46 million average annual value was second behind Aaron Rodgers' $50.3 million, per Over the Cap, until Murray agreed to a five-year, $230.5 million extension with Arizona on Thursday.