Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski reveals why Deshaun Watson walked out in the middle of an NFL game

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has lifted the lid on the chaos that led to Deshaun Watson leaving the field in the middle of Sunday’s loss to the Commanders.

The Browns’ dismal start to the season continued when they were dismantled by a Jayden Daniels-inspired Washington team.

Stefanski stood in disbelief at his own quarterback when Watson left the huddle and headed to the sideline during the third quarter.

Down 21 on 4th and goal, the head coach decided to keep the offense on the field in a desperate attempt for Cleveland to force its way into the contest.

Moments later, however, Watson was off the field and the Browns resorted to a field goal.

Watson appeared to challenge his coach, who removed his helmet in frustration before covering his mouth and talking to his quarterback.

Many NFL fans on social media accused the 29-year-old of effectively leaving his team.

Later, Stefanski explained that it was a mistake by the Browns that led Watson to leave the field.

“We didn’t have the right number of people in the group, and at that point we were just going to score the basket,” he said.

“Obviously we had some penalties and some communication issues that were entirely my fault. I will take responsibility for all of this. This looks like a football loss to me, I’ll fix it.

When it was pointed out that the Browns had 12 men on the field on multiple occasions, Stefanski conceded, “It’s really frustrating, we’ll fix that.” Before you beat someone (else), you have to stop beating yourself…we have to play better on offense, we have to coach better on offense.

In his own postgame press conference, Watson lamented how Cleveland continues to be the architects of its own downfall.

“We’re shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s tough,” the quarterback said. “The offense will go as far as it can…so at the end of the day we’re not doing enough offensively. We need to find out quickly.

On the mistake that led to him leaving the field, he added: “There were too many men in the group and that was it. We just need to lock down, that’s all I can say for now.

Watson has regularly made headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years.

The 29-year-old was traded to the Browns for six draft picks, including three first-rounders, in 2022 — despite being sued by more than two dozen massage therapists for sexual harassment and sexual assault the year before.

Since the trade, he signed a five-year, $230 million contract, all guaranteed.

Watson was involved in various legal cases over the past three seasons, before reaching confidential settlements with 20 women in sexual misconduct lawsuits that saw him suspended for 11 NFL games during the season 2022.

Last month it was revealed he was being sued for more than $1 million by a new woman, who accused him of sexually assaulting her in Texas four years ago. Watson “strongly denies” these allegations.

On the field, meanwhile, the Browns are now 1-4 after a dismal start to the season. Cleveland will face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road next week.

After Watson left the field on Sunday, the Browns were forced to take a late penalty and settle for a field goal, making the score 24-6.

Had they converted the touchdown attempt – as Stefanski wanted – the Browns could have made it a two-point game.

Tempers reportedly flared between Stefanski and Watson during Sunday’s game, with the quarterback and coach seen yelling at each other multiple times during the 34-13 loss.

According to ESPN’s ratings, Watson is the worst performing quarterback in the NFL. And after another dismal afternoon for Cleveland, Stefanski addressed his future as a starter.

“We’re not changing quarterbacks,” he said. “We have to play better. I need to coach better. That’s really what it is.

A three-yard touchdown run by Jeremy McNichols, followed by an Austin Seibert field goal, put Washington up a commanding 34-6 lead late in the third.

Cleveland finally managed to find the end zone in the fourth quarter when Watson found Jordan Akins with a ten-yard pass, but it came a little too late as the Commanders came away with the 34-13 victory.

Last month, some Browns fans called for Watson to be benched after the sexual assault allegations surfaced.

“Every week for the last three years Deshaun Watson has looked like the worst QB in the NFL and there are still people who claim he’s just a little rusty,” one fan wrote.

“I’m legitimately not sure there are 5 starting QBs in the league worse than Deshaun Watson,” another added.

“The Browns deal with Deshaun Watson is the worst deal in history and I’m sure it will never be topped,” said a third.

Former quarterback Warren Moon, meanwhile, claimed Watson’s on-field struggles were linked to his off-field dramas.

“He’s still dealing with a lot of that s**t that he dealt with a few years ago with the lawsuits and all that,” Moon told TMZ. “And now, all of a sudden, another lawsuit breaks out.

“It seems like just when he’s maybe starting to get his career back on track after overcoming the trials – and then the injuries he’s had over the last couple of years – here’s another one.”

Moon added: “It seems like every time he goes on the court, he plays with a heavy mind and is not able to concentrate on the game.”