The Cleveland Browns looked like a shell of the team that made a playoff run during the 2024 NFL Playoffs in Week 1 after they were overmatched by the Dallas Cowboys.
The first thing to point to is Deshuan Watson’s struggles offensively as he looked rusty and out of touch with his receiver corps.
Watson spent the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery and sat out all three of the team’s preseason games, a move that was meant to keep him fresh and healthy for the 2024 NFL season.
However, Watson now finds himself needing to answer questions both on and off the field after being hit with another lawsuit.
Watson’s legal troubles have plagued his football career, and now threaten his ability to make guaranteed money.
Cleveland shrewdly decided to restructure Watson’s deal this past summer to potentially recoup some of his guaranteed money in the event of another league suspension via Jay Flazer of FOX Sports.
“Very quietly this offseason in August, they restructured his deal, Glazer explained. When they restructured it, they did not put the same protections in for the next several years, so if he has a suspension moving forward there could be a chance they could go back and get some of those guarantees.”
As Glazer explained, the Browns did well on their end to protect themselves in the event of another legal battle and there’s a good chance it pays off.
For now, though, Watson is expected to remain the starter until he either plays himself out of it or is forced to sit out games by the league.
