PJ Walker to start Sunday vs. 49ers if Deshaun Watson can’t

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Following the disappointing performance by rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the week four loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns coaching staff spent the bye week deciding who should be the backup to Deshaun Watson.

The decision has reported been made and it won’t involve looking outside the organization for help.

According to Brad Stainbrook of the Orange and Brown report, the Browns will go with PJ Walker as the team’s number two quarterback.

The Browns will have to elevate Walker to the 53-man roster from the practice squad first.

That’s important because it also raises more concerns about the throwing shoulder of Watson. Walker will start Sunday against the NFL’s best team, the San Francisco 49ers, unless Watson is ready to play.

“Yeah, I think he’s caught up. He’s a veteran,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. “He’s been in multiple systems, so he’s caught up like you mentioned, six weeks. Obviously, it’s not the same as when you’re here all spring and all summer, but he’s a vet, so he’s doing a nice job.”

Despite being medically cleared to play against the Ravens on October 1, Watson himself determined his throwing shoulder was not where he wanted it to be to play.

Watson misses the game, Thompson-Robinson, the 5th round pick, is in and finds out the hard way the regular season is a lot different from the preseason in the National Football League.

Walker brings six years of NFL experience to the Browns. He’s also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers. Walker made seven starts in 16 games played over the course of three seasons in Carolina.

PJ was on the Chicago Bears practice squad before joining the Browns.

The plan is for Watson to start Sunday against the 49ers. This move is planned in order to have the next man up have NFL game experience.

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