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BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson practiced with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday for the primary time since Aug. 30. However with the quarterback nonetheless sidelined two extra video games as a part of his 11-game suspension, coach Kevin Stefanski stated the workforce’s precedence stays getting ready quarterback Jacoby Brissett to play.
“That is the subsequent step for (Watson), it is good to have him again on the sphere,” Stefanski stated. “However a very powerful factor proper now could be preparing for Buffalo and getting Jacoby prepared.”
Since Oct. 10, Watson has been allowed to take a seat in on workforce conferences and work out on the Browns coaching facility. However up till Wednesday, Watson had left the coaching facility when the Browns practiced, throwing and working towards on his personal.
Watson additionally participated within the workforce’s walkthrough earlier Wednesday. Stefanski declined to say how lots of the first-team snaps Watson would get these subsequent two apply weeks, main into his Week 13 return in opposition to the Houston Texans on Dec. 4.
However Brissett stated he is assured that he’ll be ready to play Sunday in opposition to the Buffalo Payments after which Nov. 27 in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even when he splits apply reps with Watson.
“That is not my job to stability it. That is the coach’s job to stability how he splits issues up,” stated Brissett, who has been Cleveland’s starter throughout Watson’s suspension. “I simply need to go on the market and put together how I all the time put together, do my job after which management what I can management.”
Professional Bowl operating again Nick Chubb stated he did not assume the 2 quarterbacks splitting apply reps would change into awkward, although admitted the gamers “are all excited to see Deshaun come out, get some reps and see how he has been doing.”
“You guys already know what sort of quarterback he’s,” Browns cornerback Denzel Ward added. “Positively thrilling getting him again. Trying ahead to seeing him on the market as we speak and getting him on the market for the video games.”
On Aug. 18, the NFL and NFL Gamers Affiliation reached a settlement on Watson’s 11-game suspension for violating the league’s private conduct coverage by committing sexual assault on therapeutic massage therapists, as outlined by the NFL. He was additionally fined $5 million and has needed to endure a compulsory remedy program.
Watson has been accused by greater than two dozen ladies of sexual assault and inappropriate sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes. Over the summer time, Watson agreed to settle 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits in opposition to him. A twenty fifth lawsuit was dropped by the plaintiff when the choose dominated her petition needed to be amended together with her identify. Two different ladies filed prison complaints in opposition to Watson however didn’t sue him.
On Oct. 13, one other lady filed a lawsuit in opposition to Watson, claiming he pressured her into oral intercourse throughout a therapeutic massage session in 2020. Two weeks later, Watson’s attorneys filed a collection of court docket displays as proof to undermine the allegation.
Two grand juries in Texas declined to pursue prison expenses in opposition to Watson earlier this yr. However Sue L. Robinson, an impartial arbitor collectively appointed by the league and gamers’ union, discovered that “the NFL carried its burden to show, by a preponderance of the proof, that Mr. Watson engaged in sexual assault.” Robinson additionally concluded in her report that Watson’s conduct was “egregious” and “predatory.”
Watson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and stated that individuals have not been inquisitive about listening to his aspect of the story. He nonetheless hasn’t spoken publicly since his suspension was introduced.
The Browns traded for Watson in March, sending the Texans three first-round draft picks. Cleveland additionally signed Watson to a five-year deal price $230 million assured, the richest contract in NFL historical past.
Watson hasn’t performed in a regular-season recreation since 2020, sitting out all of final yr in Houston whereas ready for a commerce.
The Browns (3-6) head to Buffalo this weekend attempting to maintain their slim playoff hopes alive. ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index provides the Browns only a 4.5% likelihood to make the postseason.
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