PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles might never get to see Deshaun Watson at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns when the two teams start practicing against each other Thursday.
The NFL has appealed Watson’s six-game suspension after two dozen women filed lawsuits against him alleging sexual assault during massages. The NFL is reportedly seeking a full-season ban. A ruling or settlement between the NFL and its players’ association could come this week.
So it’s possible that Watson could be barred from practicing or playing during the preseason.
Watson, of course, is the biggest storyline heading into the Eagles-Browns joint practices, which will take place on Thursday and Friday at the Browns’ practice complex in Berea, Ohio. The two teams will play Sunday in Cleveland in their second preseason game.
So the Browns will certainly be the focus of the media attention over the next four days while the Eagles can go about their business.
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If Watson can’t participate, Jacoby Brissett would take over as the Browns’ top quarterback. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is very familiar with him.
Sirianni was the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive coordinator in 2019 when star quarterback Andrew Luck abruptly retired during the final preseason game. Sirianni had to get Brissett ready to be the regular-season starter with little preparation time.
Brissett was a big dropoff from Luck, as just about anyone would be. Brissett completed 60.9% of his passes with 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2019. He had a QB rating of 88.0. The Colts went 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
Sirianni said he’s looking forward to these two weeks of practice. Next week, the Eagles will have two days of practice with the Miami Dolphins in Miami before facing them in the final preseason game on Aug. 27.
“The joint practices are giving you a controlled game experience for two days in a row at practice to work on things that you want to work on and the other team wants to work on,” Sirianni said.
He then added: “And you don’t get your quarterback hit.”
That was in reference to Eagles’ QB Jalen Hurts absorbing a late hit out of bounds from Jets linebacker Quincy Williams last Friday. Hurts got up and finished the drive, completing all six of his pass attempts for 80 yards and a touchdown. Both teams will be in pads for the practices, but there won’t be any tackling to the ground. And as always, quarterbacks will be wearing red jerseys and thus off limits from getting hit.
Based on past experience, it’s likely that Hurts and most of the starters will get their work in the joint practice sessions and sit out the games.
“Those will be two hard days of work,” Sirianni said. “So if I feel like they have gotten enough in those joint practices … then I wouldn’t play them in those games. But again, I haven’t made any of those decisions yet.”
Here are some storylines to watch:
If the Eagles do see Watson …
The Browns got a taste of the vitriol Watson will likely face when the Browns play on the road. Watson started last weekend when the Browns played in Jacksonville against the Jaguars, and fans chanted loudly, “You sick (expletive)!” over and over again.
Watson had a poor Browns debut. He went 1-for-5 for 7 yards. In fairness, it was Watson’s first live game action in 19 months. Watson sat out the 2021 season with the Houston Texans after demanding a trade, which coincided with the beginning of the sexual assault lawsuits. All but one of the 24 suits have been settled.
Watson will be in a much more favorable environment in front of Browns’ fans. And the Browns paid a high price for Watson, not only in salary − an unprecedented fully guaranteed 5-year contract worth $230 million − but in draft capital in giving up their first-round pick in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
For his career, Watson has completed 67.8% of his passes with a passer rating of 104.5. The Eagles’ defense will certainly be tested − if he’s allowed to participate.
Why Hurts needs to run
The question often comes up as to whether Hurts leaves the pocket too soon rather than wait for a receiver to break open. For example, on the play in which Hurts got hit late out of bounds, Hurts took off after evading a pass rusher. But he still had time to stay in the pocket in order to find a receiver.
Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen didn’t see it that way, saying that the receivers were covered. In that case, Steichen said Hurts should take off and run.
“That’s one of his superpowers, he can get out on the move and create plays,” Steichen said. “We don’t want to take that away from him. So, when guys are covered, let’s go create the big play on the move … Sometimes guys are going to be covered. Don’t stand there. He’s a great runner. We’ve all seen that, and he’s going to make big plays that way.”
And we’ll also get a good sense of just how good Eagles receivers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are.
The three played only that first series against the Jets, so that hasn’t been a true test. They’ll go against the Browns’ defensive backs, led by Denzel Ward, who is coming off his second Pro Bowl season.
Tracking Amari
The Eagles are very familiar with Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper. That’s because Cooper spent the past 3 1/2 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, facing the Eagles twice each season. Cooper feasted on the Eagles. He has more receiving yards (719) against the Eagles than he does against any other NFL team. His 41 receptions against the Eagles are second to the 42 he has against Washington.
The Eagles have a better cornerback duo in Darius Slay and James Bradberry than they have had in the past when they faced Cooper. So this will be a good test for Slay and Bradberry. The two have gotten used to facing elite receivers in practice after going against Brown and Smith.
Battle in the trenches
You won’t find a better matchup than the Eagles’ tackles going against Browns defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.
Garrett was third in sacks last season with 16 while Clowney had 9. Their combined sack total of 25 was just four shy of the Eagles’ entire team. Garrett and Clowney will each be a handful for Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson will also have to deal with one of the Browns’ pass rushers on stunts to the inside.
“It’s always a good experience to play against different people and learn how to adjust your technique because that’s how it goes during the season,” Dickerson said. “You get into a game, and you think this guy is playing one way or another, and you realize ‘I gotta change up something a little bit.’ So it’s a great opportunity for not only me, but everybody, to kind of work on adapting in the situation.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
