Commanders DT has theory about struggles of Browns' Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson lost a fumble, took seven sacks and passed for only 125 yards in this past Sunday's blowout 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders, which dropped Cleveland to 1-4 on the season.

During a Tuesday appearance on Washington, D.C. sports radio station 106.7 The Fan, Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen discussed why he believes Watson isn't the same player today when he earned three Pro Bowl nods with the Houston Texans.

"If I'm being honest, he looked like a player who's had stuff going on above the shoulders," Allen said about how Watson performed against Washington, as shared by Ben Krimmel of Audacy. "It's definitely a confidence thing that's going on. I always tell people, it doesn't matter how great a player you are. If you don't have confidence, you're not a good player. I would say that is the biggest difference. I think physically — I mean, he's probably not as athletic as he was six, seven years ago, however long it was..."

Watson sat out the entire 2021 season while hoping to be traded by the Texans and then made just 12 starts over his first two campaigns with the Browns. According to Pro Football Reference, he's been sacked a league-most 26 times this season and ended Week 5 ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 21.0 adjusted QBR. Across Cleveland's first five games, he tossed five touchdown passes and three interceptions. 

One unnamed coach recently said he felt Watson is "maybe not quite as mobile as [he] used to be" and that Cleveland's "entire offense is disjointed" this fall. Regardless of whether or not he truly wants to, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is keeping Watson the club's QB1 through at least the start of this Sunday's game at the 2-2 Philadelphia Eagles. 

"Mentally, if you're not good up top, like, you're not gonna be confident," Allen added about Watson. "You're not gonna be playing free. You're gonna be thinking, you're gonna be reacting slower. So I would say that's probably the biggest difference for him right now."

Confidence can be lost and regained, so Allen's comments suggest he thinks Watson theoretically could turn things around under Stefanski. If the 29-year-old produces a dud against the Eagles, Stefanski may have to go to backup Jameis Winston, if only to prevent a locker-room mutiny from arising.