The Cleveland Browns still back Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is stuck in a rut and he just can’t seem to get out of it.

The Browns are off to a 1-3 start so far this season, and Watson’s poor play has been a big reason why.

Cleveland certainly expected a lot more from Watson when it acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans in March 2022, but the 28-year-old doesn’t even look like himself anymore.

That being said, Browns players seem to support him.

An anonymous Cleveland player recently spoke with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini via text message and made a mostly positive statement about the caller.

“He really gives us the best chance,” the player said.

Watson had what might have been his best performance of the season in the Browns’ loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend, although that’s not saying much.

The Clemson product was 24-for-32 with 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception while being sacked three times. Cleveland only managed 16 points in the loss.

On the entire season, Watson totaled 727 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 61.5 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 74.4.

Since joining the Browns in 2022, Watson has played in a total of 16 games, amassing 18 passing touchdowns and 12 picks.

Watson made three straight Pro Bowls with the Texans between 2018 and 2020, but he sat out all of 2021 and seems to have fallen off a cliff since then.

We’ll see if Watson and Cleveland can recover as the season progresses.