As the 2024 NFL season approaches, all eyes are on Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, whose career hangs in the balance following a tumultuous couple of years marked by injuries and controversies.
Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, has not played a full season with the Browns since his blockbuster $230 million move from Houston in 2022. The stakes are incredibly high, and the pressure is mounting for him to perform this season.
James Jones, a Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XLV champion, recently expressed his concerns about Watson’s future in the league. Speaking on FS1’s “Speak,” Jones highlighted the precarious position Watson finds himself in.
“If you do not play well, he gonna be out of there… If you come in here and you’re not available and you are not playing at a high level, Deshaun Watson is gonna be gone,” Jones stated emphatically. His commentary sheds light on the high expectations and the slim margin for error that Watson faces going into the new season.
Deshaun Watson’s Season on the Edge
Watson’s performance over the past two years has been less than stellar, with him playing only 12 games. In those games, he threw for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, achieving a passer rating of 81.7. These numbers are a far cry from the elite performance expected from a quarterback of his caliber and price tag.
The 2024 season is set to be a do-or-die scenario for Watson. Jones doubts Watson’s ability to secure a position with another team if the Browns decide to move on, questioning his current level of play starkly:
“Deshaun Watson, if we really, truly keeping it 100, he’s been one of the worst quarterbacks in our league.. All we can say is, eventually the Houston dude gonna come back. Maybe the Houston dude is gone… because I have seen zero flashes of it. Not a run, not a throw, zero flashes of that dude.”
The Road Ahead
The Browns have one of the toughest schedules in the upcoming NFL season, starting with a game against the Dallas Cowboys at home. This season opener will be a critical moment for Watson to prove he can lead his team and revive his career.
The question remains: Will Deshaun Watson rise to the occasion, or will the pressure prove too much? As the season unfolds, his performance will be a key storyline to watch, determining not only his future but also the direction of the Cleveland Browns as they navigate another challenging NFL season.
