Browns' QB Deshaun Watson ruled out for 49ers game; P.J. Walker will start
Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson has been out since he suffered an injury Sept. 24 against the Titans. He missed the Browns' Oct. 1 loss to the Ravens.
P.J. Walker is officially starting at quarterback for the Browns on Sunday when they play host to the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.
The Browns have ruled out Deshaun Watson for the game due to a bruise on the rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder. He has been sidelined since suffering the injury on Sept. 24 against the Tennessee Titans. It is the second consecutive game Watson will miss. He did not play in a 28-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 1 after having been limited in practice that week.
The Browns hoped the bye week between the games against the Ravens and 49ers would allow for the injury to heal enough that Watson could play. Instead, he did not practice at all during the week leading up to the game.
Walker still needs to be elevated off the practice squad by Saturday at 4 p.m. to be eligible. The fourth-year pro was signed to the practice squad in late August after being cut by the Chicago Bears.
The Temple University product spent the previous three seasons playing for the Carolina Panthers, appearing in 15 games and starting seven. He played for current 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the Panthers' interim head coach last season.
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“I think he’s very capable of running that offense," Wilks told Bay Area reporters on Thursday. "He makes good decisions. He’s good with the ball. He can win with his legs, a lot of what Deshaun can do. So when people say are they going to dummy-down the offense? I don’t think so. I think he’s more than capable of running that offense.”
Walker was 4-3 as a starter in Carolina, including five games last season as Baker Mayfield's replacement. He is 131-of-228 (57.5%) for 1,461 yards with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his career.
Last year in total with the Panthers, Walker was 63-of-106 (59.4%) for 731 yards and three touchdowns and three interceptions. He ran six times for 39 yards, while being sacked seven times.
The Browns may also be without left guard Joel Bitonio, whose 102-game, regular-season games-played streak would come to an end. Bitonio hasn't practiced all week due to a knee injury, but the team hasn't officially ruled him out.