Sitting at 1-3 after the first four weeks of the 2024 season, QB Deshaun Watson knows that the offensive execution on Sundays must improve if the Browns are to achieve their goals for the season.
Watson spoke to the media Wednesday about a range of topics, including the potential return of injured Browns offensive weapons, mistakes on offense and his leadership role on the team.
Here are the top three takeaways from Watson's time with the media.
Getting back key offensive weapons could boost offense
RB Nick Chubb and TE David Njoku were among the injured Browns who made a return to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday.
Chubb has been out since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Njoku played in the season opener but has not been active since, suffering an ankle injury. Njoku was a limited participant last Thursday but did not practice on Wednesday or Friday of last week or play in Week 4 against the Raiders.
Chubb's potential return at some point this season could provide a spark for a Browns offense that has struggled to create explosive plays this season. In his last full season, the six-year veteran rushed for 1,525 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns.
"It'd be good to have his presence, his attitude, his mentality out there to help us, and we'll see how it goes," Watson said. "Hopefully, it's sooner than later, but, yeah, we're all super excited for Chubb to be back and just him to be back on the field is definitely awesome."
Njoku made his first Pro Bowl last season after finishing with 882 yards and six receiving touchdowns. TE Jordan Akins and TE Blake Whiteheart have filled in for Njoku in his absence.
"It'd be big for this offense," Watson said on Njoku's potential return. "I think he's a big part of this system. Exactly what we wanted to do and what we were planning to do with the start of the season. But I know he's been out for the last couple weeks, and it'd be good to have him back."
Correcting little mistakes will lead to successful drives
The Browns are among the most penalized teams in the league, averaging 8.5 penalties per game. They have been flagged eight times for offensive holding and four times for false start penalties.
In their loss to the Raiders, an 82-yard touchdown pass to WR Amari Cooper was called back after C Nick Harris was penalized for offensive holding.
Watson said that eliminating self-inflicted mistakes would put the Browns in a better position to win games.
"The biggest thing is we got to correct the little mistakes that's costing us the opportunity to make big plays and win games," Watson said.
In part due to penalties and offensive mistakes, the Browns average just 3.2 yards per first down play, the lowest in the league. Their third down conversion rate of 20.75 percent is the worst in the NFL.
Watson said he believes that the lack of success on early downs has led to the Browns' struggles on third down.
"The third down percentages start with the first and second down," Watson said. "We got to put ourselves manageable for third downs before we can speak on it. So, the more the distances increase on third down, the lower the percentage gets for anybody to capitalize on."
Watson's take on his conversation with LT Dawand Jones
On the television broadcast of Sunday's loss to the Raiders, Watson was seen talking to LT Dawand Jones after Jones allowed DE Tyree Wilson to hit Watson as he threw a deep ball to Cooper in the first half of the game.
Jones said after the game that Watson spoke to him and gave him encouragement on his potential to be among the best offensive tackles in the NFL. For Watson, the conversation was a normal part of being teammates.
"That's what family does," Watson said. "We might go back and forth, but at the end of the day, we talk about it, we love each other and we move on. And that's part of the game, that's part of this system."
Player-oriented leadership has been an emphasis of head coach Kevin Stefanski's teams throughout the years, and Watson said that he has always tried to be an outspoken leader.
"I've always been vocal, so just because you probably saw it during the game, Sunday, doesn't mean I haven't been vocal before," Watson said. "So that's always been me. If I need to correct something, then I'm going to correct it."
Sitting at 1-3, Watson is well aware of the challenges the Browns face in the month of October. With road games against the Commanders and Eagles before hosting the Bengals and Ravens, the Browns are focused on one day at a time.
"[Winning Sunday] can definitely start something great, and that's what we believe," Watson said. "But we got to win today. We got to win Wednesday before we can win on Sunday. If we can win Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then go out there and just play free and try to get a W – and get a W on the road against a very good Commanders team – then that can really start something."
