Deshaun Watson is back in the NFL after a two-year hiatus. The star quarterback has been out for a long time due to abuse allegations and a suspension. He enjoys his comeback, even if he delivers a weak game.
The Cleveland Browns got their fifth win of the season in quarterback Deshaun Watson’s comeback, but mainly benefited from other parts of the team. 700 days after his last NFL game, Watson, who had been suspended for eleven games because of allegations of abuse, remained without a touchdown pass in the 27:14 against the Houston Texans. The Browns scored their three own touchdowns after intercepting balls through their defense. In the duel with his former team, Watson made 12 of his 22 pass attempts to a teammate and threw for a total of just 131 yards. One of his passes was intercepted.
Despite NRG Stadium being half-empty, Watson was loudly booed throughout the game before each Browns snap. “They should boo,” said Watson. “I’m a Cleveland Brown now and we’re away so they have to boo. Coach Kevin Stefanski said of Watson’s performance: “Obviously you’re missing a lot of time. So you have to get back in the game. You have to get out of the way the first time. But I know what the boy is capable of.”
After the game, Watson was asked if he felt any remorse for what the league called “predatory” and “outrageous” actions that led to his suspension. Watson again declined to answer these questions. “I was just happy to be back on the field today. I did everything that was asked of me and what I had to do. I did all that. And I was able to play today and on the field to stand.
Over the summer, Watson agreed to settle 23 of the 24 civil claims against him. Two lawsuits against him are pending, including one filed on October 13. Two other women filed criminal complaints against Watson but did not sue him. As part of the suspension settlement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, Watson also had to pay a $5 million fine and enter a treatment program. The league had described Watson’s actions as “predatory” and “outrageous”.
The game day went well for the Detroit Lions around Amon-Ra St. Brown, who contributed two touchdowns in the 40:14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Lions’ fifth win of the season and overall showed a very strong performance. He caught eleven passes for a total of 114 yards. In the meantime, he has had twelve touchdowns in his career, making him by far the most successful German in NFL history. “It went quite well, my second game with two touchdowns and it was our best performance as a team. 40 points up, only 14 points allowed – as a team it was the best performance since I’ve been here,” said the 23-year-old pass receiver with German mother and American father of the German Press Agency.
“It was a big win for us because I feel like it can take us through December,” said coach Dan Campbell. Similarly, St. Brown assessed the situation for the Lions, who now have five wins and seven defeats even outsider chances for the playoffs. “We have five games left in the season and we want to end the season strong. We have a good team ahead of us in Vikings next week, it’s going to be a tough game in the division but today’s game will take us forward.”
Amon-Ra’s brother, Equanimeous St. Brown, meanwhile, suffered a 19-28 loss at the Green Bay Packers reunion. The Chicago Bears were up 16-3 at one point, and St. Brown had one of his better games this season, catching three passes for 85 yards. But the Packers, who signed St. Brown for the first four years of his NFL career, turned things around and kept their small hopes of the playoffs alive with their fifth win of the season.