The Cleveland Browns offense is struggling in 2024, and so is highly paid quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson has held the Browns to a 1-2 record through three games, has the second-lowest QBR among qualified quarterbacks behind recently-benched Bryce Young, and has completed just 57.8 percent of his passes this year while throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Asked Wednesday whether Cleveland’s offense could be improved by implementing more planned quarterback runs, Watson made it clear he has no interest in using his legs more often.
“I’m not going to go out there asking them to make more planned runs. If I don’t have to run, I’m not going to run,” Watson said, via ESPN.
“I’m not a running back. That’s not my specialty. They signed me to throw the ball, make decisions and use me as a quarterback, not as a runner,” he added.
Through their first three games, the Browns rank 24th in rushing attack with an average of 95.7 yards per game. The team ranks 30th in passing attack with an average of 152.3 yards per game. It’s not unreasonable to think that Watson’s mobility could help spread out both the passing and running games, but Watson, returning from shoulder surgery, has made it clear that it’s not in his interest to include a lot of planned runs in the gameplan.
โIโm not saying the run game alone doesnโt help the offense. [shoulder surgery]I don’t think it’s a high priority [coach Kevin Stefanski] It put me in that situation,โ Watson explained.
The risk of re-injury seems to be the main factor in Watson’s preference not to increase the number of rushing plays, as he has used his legs more while scrambling in the past: He averaged 5.7 rushing attempts per game with the Texans, 5.1 in 15 games in three seasons with the Browns and just 4.4 rushing attempts since the start of the 2023 season.