Another bad Deshaun Watson performance a depressing look into Browns' future

Watson finished the game 22-of-40 for 235 yards, one touchdown and an interception while being sacked six times.

Since his first game with the Browns in Week 13 of the 2022 season, Watson has eight starts and is 137-of-239 (57.3 percent) for 1,491 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Cleveland will rely heavily on him after it lost running back Nick Chubb for the season due to a gruesome leg injury. Based on Watson's unimpressive stats since taking over as the team's starter, that isn't a recipe for success.

He hasn't played a good game in three years, and we're supposed to believe he's going to magically regain his 2020 form between Weeks 2 and 3? A scheduling quirk means the Browns don't play on the road again until Oct. 22, but looming home games against the Ravens in Week 4 and the 49ers in Week 6 mean the next month won't offer a conducive environment for Watson to get on track.

His downturn is even worse for Cleveland considering Baker Mayfield's hot start to the season in Tampa. The Browns traded Mayfield to Carolina last year after landing Watson, and the former No. 1 overall pick has more yards, touchdowns and fewer interceptions than Watson through two games.

The Browns have made numerous bad decisions as a franchise over the years but trading three first-round picks and then signing Watson to an unprecedented $230 million guaranteed contract after he sat the entire 2021 season could top them all.

He's shown no signs of improvement since returning last year and the team has no escape from his potentially onerous contract. His dead cap hit in 2024, should he be cut, is $200 million. It decreases slightly to $136.9 million if he's cut in 2025. Unless it finds a trade partner it can swindle, Cleveland is stuck with Watson.

Monday night's misery may soon have plenty of company.