QB Deshaun Watson (8.19.26)
Deshaun, can you talk about going up against the Bills’ number one pass defense from last season, and what you think you might be able to get out of tomorrow’s joint practice?
“Yeah, it’d be a good challenge for the team, the offense especially, really both sides, but just going against one of the top teams in the AFC, they’ve been proving it over the last couple of years, they keep reloading. So, a good one-on-one battle, get to show a lot of different things, get to see a lot of different looks from their defense, and see where we’re tested and where we can be at this year.”
Deshaun, after going over the tape of the preseason opener, what was the one thing you knew you needed to execute better going into the second preseason game?
“Just everything, just operational. Just continue to be as sharp as possible. Connect on the throws that I need to connect on and just make sure that we’re all on the same page going on each and every play.”
For a quarterback, there’s a feel you have to have for the clock, the play clock and the game clock, knowing when you need to get rid of the ball. How do you slow that down so it’s not all moving too fast for you?
“For me, I’m not sure. I just go with my instincts, honestly. I just kind of play ball, and whenever that clock goes off in my head, in that situation, that’s when I usually react off of it.”
For you this week, is Thursday’s joint practice more productive for your game than playing in the third quarter of the game?
“No. Every situation, every rep I get, every opportunity I get to just go out there and play football is just as important as playing just one quarter or playing a lot in practice. I think the more reps I get, the more opportunities I get to see, is more beneficial for myself and just improving my game and just catching up from what I missed the last two years.”
Obviously, it had been a long time since you played in a game setting. How did your body feel coming out of it?
“It felt good. Of course, getting hit a little bit, the next day I was a little bit sore, but that’s typical football, nothing I was surprised about. So, I think just being able to continue to stay on top of that, just making sure I’m ready for each and every opportunity that I get.”
Given that time away, do you still feel like you’re getting more comfortable each time in the pocket, and since you haven’t played do so long, do you feel there is still room to grow as far as your comfort level there?
“Of course. There’s always room to grow, even Week 1 to Week 17. There’s always room to grow, that being comfortable and trusting everything, trusting what we want to be as an offense and especially as a quarterback. So, every opportunity, every rep that we get standing back there in the pocket, is definitely an opportunity for us to get more comfortable.”
Do you expect the coach to make a decision on Monday or Sunday perhaps on who is starting the season opener?
“I’m not expecting anything, honestly. I’m taking one day at a time, and whatever comes, that’s how we’re going to go about the situation.”
Do you feel like you have to lock down this competition in Thursday’s joint practice before the coach makes his decision? It seems like you passed the first big hurdle against the Bears and now this is the next one before he makes his decision. Do you feel like you have to really nail it on Thursday?
“No. Every opportunity, for me, I just want to go out there and prove that I’m capable of being the starter. But as far as nailing it, my main focus is just trying to improve. I’m not really focused on the competition. I think the front office and Coach (Todd) Monken are going to make that decision based on how they’re going to make it, so I can’t really control that as far as what they want to go with, but I can control my opportunities and my reps that I get and being successful with that.”
You mentioned that you’re 30 now, which might be a little different from the way it was in Houston. How, if at all, do your instincts have to change along with everything else that’s changed about you?
“I think y’all took the wrong words out of that. I think somebody asked Coach Monken that, that I’m not capable of playing like I did in 2020. I never said that. I just said that I’m not going to be running guys over like I used to when I was 24 years old. So, I think I’ve got to preserve the body as much as possible, so I can stay on the field. That’s one of the things I’ve talked about with the front office and coaching staff; is don’t take the unnecessary hits when I don’t need to. But as far as my instincts and the way I play, when I’m on the field, I just play ball and react.”
Yesterday you aired out a ball to (Denzel) Boston against Denzel Ward. I don’t know if you remember.
“Yeah, I do. Yes sir.”
Would you like to exercise that part of your game more in the actual games?
“Of course. That’s something I’ve always been pretty good at, especially in the past. But those looks and opportunities got to come up. Whatever coach is calling, I try to execute as much as possible, keep the chains moving. Especially early on, it’s hard to really start taking shots when the defense is sitting back on that. Especially with Chicago, they were playing a lot of two-wide shells, so a lot of underneath things were right there. But that’s something I definitely want to continue to work on, and when those opportunities come, take advantage of it.”
Did the pass alone reassure you that your arm is 100 percent?
“I’ve known that. I think it’s you guys in the media that talk about that. I think everyone in this building knows that I’m pretty healthy and strong.”
Deshaun, just to go back to the actual preseason game on Saturday, you’re playing the third quarter, going up against backups. For you, is the value for you just about getting those live game reps, since it had been so long without them?
“Yeah. I think every opportunity, regardless of if it’s first quarter, first half, or third quarter, is really just being able to go out there, execute, get those live reps, guys flying, bullets flying, both teams on the sideline. Practice is a little different, it’s more controlled, but this is not. But anytime we’re out there on the field in live game action, it’s definitely good for anybody out there, especially myself playing quarterback, getting that feeling, the timing and rhythm back, is definitely a good opportunity.”
Do you feel like it will still be quality work even though you’ll be with backups and playing against third and fourth-teamers? Do you think it will still be super valuable?
“Of course. You have to bring those guys up that are either new, rookies and younger guys that don’t have a lot of experience, try to bring them up to speed. And if you can execute at that level, then I think you’re doing a pretty good job of leading and taking charge.”
What was Todd Monken’s message to you guys when he stopped practice early yesterday? Did it feel like the defense crossed the line with some of the physicality?
“I don’t think crossing the line is the right word to say. I think he wanted to do it just to protect us, because we’re already going through a couple internal things, but at the same time we’ve got to protect each other. It’s Browns versus Browns, so it doesn’t count on the wins or losses. We’ve got to make sure we’re healthy going into practice tomorrow against a very good Buffalo team, and then into the games. It’s a marathon. You want to be physical, you want to set the tone, but at the same time you’ve got to be able to protect each other as much as possible.”
Deshaun, if Todd actually does names you the starter next week, how would you put into words what an accomplishment that would be for you after what you’ve been through the last two years?
“Just really proud of myself. That’s all I can say, really. Just proud of myself.”
What do you make of Todd’s been working you guys a lot, at one point six practices in a row. He seems more willing to play starters in the preseason than some of the newer-school coaches. What’s your take on his old-school philosophy?
“It’s definitely new for me. I think it’s new for a lot of the veteran guys, but we want to embrace it. We want to embrace what he believes in. He’s the head coach, he has a rhythm and a method behind it, and we’ve just got to put in the work. I think everyone in this locker room, we might be banged up or hurting a little bit, but at the same time the work is not going to just be given to us. We’ve got to go earn it. Over the last couple of years, we’ve got to make sure we earn that, we’ve got to earn that respect, we’ve got to earn that grind, we’ve got to earn each win. And for us to do that and get prepared for that, we’ve got to do it on the practice field first. So, it’s definitely different, but I think everyone in this locker room and in this organization embraces it.”
What are you most proud of yourself for, in how you’ve handled things here?
“I think the biggest thing I’m proud of is just my mental, being able to block out the noise, being able to keep smiling through everything and control my own narrative regardless. So, I think that’s the biggest thing, just my mentality, keeping it at peace, keeping it fresh, so I can be able to be in front of you guys and talk to you today and still be in a quarterback battle. I think that’s a blessing for myself, and I think that’s why I’m proud.”
Have you thought about any type of reaction you might get at the stadium on Saturday? Are you prepared for whatever might come?
“I don’t care. I don’t care.”
Deshaun, you’ve talked about the similarities between what Todd’s running and what Bill (O’Brien) ran with you in Houston. Can you expand on what specifically about those two systems accentuates what you do best as a quarterback?
“I think it’s just really quarterback control. I think he puts a lot on the quarterback’s plate, so it gives us the opportunity to showcase our talent, showcase the knowledge of the game that we have, and to really take the lead on the field. Being able to have Bill O’Brien’s and Monk’s system, they teach you everything they want you to know, and then once you get in the game, it’s like, okay, here, you’re the coach on the field, we’re going to give you a couple of plays, and now you pick the right play, however you feel, and make it right. I think that’s the beauty of not being set in stone with this is what we’ve got to run, if it’s not the perfect look, you’re kind of stuck in that situation. This gives us options to get to the right play and make sure we pick out the weakness in the defense.”
Have you had a coach at practice end early like that? Or is this the first time you’ve been part of it?
“I’m pretty sure I’ve had that happen before, especially in Houston with Billy O and (Mike) Vrabel as the DC. I think the coaches had to end it on their own, not even the players, I think it was a coach situation with Bill O’Brien and Coach Vrabel. So, it’s not the first.”
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