Veteran Browns player makes alarming comment after loss to Chargers

It was reported after the Cleveland Browns improved to 2-6 on via a surprising 29-24 Week 8 win over the Baltimore Ravens that some within the Browns believed "that a season turnaround [wasn't] out of the question."

The vibes in the Cleveland locker room understandably changed after the club suffered a disappointing 27-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that dropped the Browns to 2-7 on Sunday. 

"I’ve never been in this situation," an unnamed veteran Browns player said while leaving the locker room after Sunday's defeat, per Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. "I’ve never been in a spot where the season is over before the bye week." 

Lloyd added that Cleveland's "season is over, and the players all know it" even though the Browns are still mathematically in the playoff hunt.

The Browns traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills in October before Deshaun Watson went down with a ruptured right Achilles tendon in Week 7. While backup Jameis Winston earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Baltimore, he somewhat returned to form and tossed three interceptions in the loss to the Chargers. 

Cleveland is widely expected to trade starting pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith and other out-of-contract players before Tuesday's deadline. 

Watson's poor play, coupled with what's left of the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract he signed in March 2022, will impact how the Browns build around whoever they start at quarterback through at least next season. Many assume Browns owner Jimmy Haslam will run it back with both general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski after they signed extensions this past offseason, but the comment from the veteran player shouldn't go ignored. 

History shows that some players who realize their employer is essentially punting on the second half of a season will make "business decisions" during games to stay healthy through Week 18. Would Haslam blow things up if Stefanski is unable to keep the locker room motivated and the Browns finish the season with only four, three or even two total wins? 

Much will be made between the first full week of November and next summer about whether or not Watson has taken his last meaningful snap with the Browns. Haslam's first decision of the upcoming offseason could be to determine if he believes the Berry-Stefanski marriage can fix the mess created when Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans after the 2021 campaign.