Browns QB Deshaun Watson officially ruled out vs. 49ers originally appeared on
NBC Sports Bay Area.
The Cleveland Browns will be without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday as they face the undefeated 49ers.
According to a report from Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns officially ruled Watson out on Friday morning due to a shoulder injury.
P.J. Walker, who has been promoted from the practice squad, will start as quarterback for the Browns in place of the injured Watson, beating out rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the position.
CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson first reported on Thursday that Watson wouldn’t suit up for the Week 6 game.
If Watson was unable to play, it was previously reported that Walker would start under center for the Browns.
Watson sustained the shoulder injury in the Browns’ Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans. In Week 4, Thompson-Robinson made his first career start in place of Watson but struggled, throwing three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Instead of turning to Thompson-Robinson again, the Browns have decided to give Walker, a former XFL star with three seasons under his belt with the Carolina Panthers, the opportunity to start. This will be Walker’s eighth career start and his first in a Browns uniform.
Walker has faced the 49ers once before during his NFL career. He entered the game in the fourth quarter of the 49ers’ 37-15 win over the Panthers last season, replacing Baker Mayfield, and completed 5 of 6 passes for 60 yards in garbage time.
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