Some have wondered just what is going on with Deshuan Watson and the Cleveland Browns. But, according to the latest report, Watson is, indeed, injured.
After coming back this past week against the Indianapolis Colts, Watson left early on after absorbing a big hit. It was later confirmed that Watson is now dealing with a strain in his subscapularis within the rotator cuff.
Now with his status uncertain and after already being subject of a bizarre situation, being cleared by doctors only to not play, the Browns should start thinking about insurance. P.J. Walker isn't the answer, and at 4-2, the Browns are a legitimate threat for the division title and a playoff berth.
If Cleveland needed some insurance, these three free agents make some sense.
1. Carson Wentz
Still unsigned, Carson Wentz is waiting for a situation just like this one. Wentz played last season in Washington, where he started seven games, throwing for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
A former second overall pick, Wentz was once an MVP candidate before a major injury threw off his season. The last couple of years haven't been kind to his reputation, but his lone season in Indianapolis actually wasn't bad at all. In 2021, he threw for 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns and just seven picks.
At this point, Wentz is a much better option than Walker. The opportunity to play for a current contender has to appeal to the veteran, too. Wentz should still have a lot of football left in him. Will it continue in Cleveland?
2. Matt Ryan
That year after Wentz played for the Colts, Indy went out and signed longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to come in and start for them. Last year, Ryan threw for 3,057 yards with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He was 4-7-1 as a starter.
Some might argue that Ryan looked washed, while others could run with the whole "Colts were a mess" narrative. Either way, Ryan has yet to officially retire and might still be waiting for a phone call. The situation in Cleveland is great, especially considering their defense.
Throughout Ryan's time in Atlanta, he hardly had a formidable defense to back him up. It's no wonder he was pretty much expected to throw for over 4,000 yards every year -- and specifically in 10 straight seasons from 2011 to 2020. He'd have plenty to work with in Cleveland between Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Elijah Moore and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
The future Hall of Famer could be a good fit for a team that has a need for someone to simply not lose games. Ryan would qualify as a solid game manager at this point in his career, and would be able to do enough for the Browns to score some points and win with their defense.
3. Colt McCoy
Lastly, we come to a guy who has spent the majority of his career as a backup quarterback, but has played mostly well when called upon. Colt McCoy is a 13-year NFL veteran with 36 starts over his career, and has played for five different NFL franchises.
This would truly be a full-circle moment for McCoy, who was drafted by the Browns back in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. The Texas product last played for the Arizona Cardinals for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, before ultimately being released this year in favor of Joshua Dobbs and rookie Clayton Tune.
McCoy was a bit older when he entered the league, and is now 37 years old. He probably doesn't have a ton of football left in him, and wouldn't necessarily be a guy who could come in and start over Walker right away. This would really be an act of insurance, rather than finding a quarterback that could be an upgrade over Walker.
Would McCoy end up being a better option? It's likely. He'd also come the cheapest out of anyone on this list.