BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson recently faced the media following one of the worst performances of his career. In a disappointing 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Watson recorded an abysmal 8.3 total QBR and averaged just 2.6 air yards per attempt, marking both as career lows. His struggles were evident as he appeared indecisive on the field, missed downfield targets, and was sacked six times due to a faltering offensive line.

When questioned about whether such a performance could shake his confidence, Watson firmly replied, “Hell no. I’ll always be Deshaun Watson, regardless of whoever else says otherwise.”

However, the version of Watson the Browns envisioned—an elite Pro Bowl quarterback to lead them to Super Bowl contention—has been absent since the franchise traded three first-round picks to the Houston Texans for him and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract back in March 2022. After having witnessed Joe Flacco step up and lead the team to the playoffs while Watson was sidelined due to injury, the expectation was that Watson would elevate the team upon his return. Instead, the Browns’ performance has regressed.

Watson’s journey to starting for the Browns was tumultuous. He began his tenure with an 11-game suspension following numerous accusations of sexual misconduct and assault. Though a recent lawsuit against him was settled, Watson's past continues to cast a long shadow over his career. Compounding his challenges were injuries, notably a fracture to his throwing shoulder that required season-ending surgery last November, affecting his time on the field and stunting his development with the team.

After his 17th start as a Brown—resulting in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders—Watson's struggles persisted. He has now gone five consecutive games without throwing for 200 passing yards, a career-long drought. The latest loss showcased the same issues: lack of protection, procedural penalties, and a delay of game on a critical fourth down that visibly frustrated both Watson and head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Despite a record of 9-8 in games started by Watson, his statistics are starkly inferior to his days with the Texans, where he was recognized as one of the league’s standout quarterbacks. Currently, his QBR of 34.3 ranks him 32nd out of 34 qualified passers—significantly lower than his Houston average of 67.7.

Stefanski has stated that the blame for the offensive woes does not lie solely on Watson. "We have the guys. We have the coaches. We will get it fixed," he remarked, as the team looks to remedy the issues causing their 1-4 start. Nevertheless, time is running out for Watson to reclaim his previous form.

In Week 4’s showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders, Watson displayed brief flashes of brilliance. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 176 yards and had a touchdown, although it was marred by mistakes, including a dropped pass that led to an interception. His 40.2 QBR in that game was a season high, yet, it was a small consolation in light of the team’s overall performance.

Defensive critiques of Watson’s play have mounted, with concerns about his ability to maintain trust in the offense. An NFC coach noted, “It looks like he's disjointed, and the entire offense is disjointed,” emphasizing that the lack of cohesion was leading to increased pressure on Watson, who has also taken a league-high 26 sacks.

Injuries in the Browns' offensive line and within the receiving corps, including Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku missing several games, have further complicated Watson's situation. As he grapples with these challenges, the team remains focused on turning things around.

In an effort to provide Watson with better offensive support, the Browns changed their offensive coordinator in the offseason, bringing in Ken Dorsey to implement a system more aligned with Watson's strengths. Yet, despite high hopes, the Browns currently have one of the worst offenses in the NFL, failing to eclipse 300 yards in any game this season—a grim statistic not seen since 1999.

As the Browns' struggles continue and criticism towards Watson intensifies, the stakes rise sharply. The organization recently restructured his massive contract to create cap space, essentially locking themselves into a risky financial commitment as they brace for potential future penalties if they part ways with Watson. Cleveland’s projected cap space for 2025 stands at $52 million over the limit, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the Watson acquisition.

Watson remains committed to finding a rhythm and acknowledges the urgency of improving offensive productivity. "We've just got to find what are we great at... but time is ticking and we've got to figure that out quickly," he conceded following another disheartening loss.

Despite the mounting pressure and challenges, Watson's fate is still uncertain as he embarks on his journey to regain the brilliance that once made him a star. Will he manage to turn things around in time, or will this season mark the end of his tumultuous tenure with the Browns? Only time will tell, but if Watson can muster the form that dazzled fans in Houston, there may yet be hope for a turnaround.