Deshaun Watson’s absence from the Browns lineup in Week 4 raised concerns since he had been medically cleared to play. However, the team’s general manager, Andrew Berry, expressed optimism that the shoulder injury would not have long-term effects. Berry also defended the decision to trade backup quarterback Josh Dobbs before the season, stating that it was the right move for the organization.
Berry explained, “We were optimistic that Deshaun would play. He had been working hard to recover from the injury, but during the pregame warmup, it became clear that he couldn’t perform at his best. We didn’t want to risk further injury or hinder his ability to fulfill his role on the team.”
Berry expects Watson’s shoulder to fully heal in the short term, and he should be back in action in Week 6 after the team’s bye week. Regarding Dobbs, Berry defended the decision to trade him, citing the potential of rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the main reason. Although Dobbs has performed well as a fill-in for the Cardinals, the Browns believe Thompson-Robinson has a brighter future.
Berry stated, “We had a high opinion of Josh, and it wasn’t an easy decision to trade him. But as a general manager, I have a responsibility to balance the present and future of the team. We believed trading Dobbs was the best decision for the organization’s short-term and long-term success.”