Insider shares alarming update on Browns QB Deshaun Watson

It sounds like Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson may miss more than two total games with the rotator cuff contusion that will keep him a spectator when the 2-2 Browns hosts the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. 

Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer reported late Friday afternoon that Watson "could miss multiple more games" with what is being referred to as "a deep contusion that presents or functions more like a strain." 

Watson suffered the initial injury in the 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 24, but was medically cleared for the team's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 1. However, the 28-year-old signal-caller was made inactive for that contest after he struggled through his pregame warmup and then didn't practice throughout this past midweek coming off Cleveland's bye. 

Backup P.J. Walker made five starts with the Carolina Panthers last season and has replaced rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson atop the Browns depth chart for Sunday's matchup with the 49ers and until further notice. It's unclear if Walker or Thompson-Robinson would start for Cleveland at the Indianapolis Colts if Watson can't play on Oct. 22. 

A report from earlier in the week relayed that Watson could need 2-6 weeks to fully recover from his setback. 

"(Watson) won’t be back out on the field again until he can throw normally and without pain — however long that takes," Cabot wrote. Cabot added that it "doesn’t appear" Watson needs what likely would be season-ending surgery to repair the issue. 

While Watson reportedly "aggravated" some teammates by not playing against the Ravens, both offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and head coach Kevin Stefanski have since defended the signal-caller and insisted their QB1 wants to return to the lineup as soon as possible. 

"He wants very badly to play, but you have to treat the injury," Stefanski said about Watson on Friday. "You have to be smart about what you’re doing."

As of Friday evening, OddsChecker listed the Watson-less Browns as nine-point underdogs for Sunday's game versus the Niners.