Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, has been sidelined yet again by injury.

The Cleveland Browns have the strongest defense in the NFL, which is fortunate given their offense’s lackluster performance. Only the Raiders have thrown more interceptions than Cleveland quarterbacks have.

The Browns’ aggregate quarterback rating of 61 is not just bottom in the league, but also a long way below the next closest team – 12 points. Only the Tennessee Titans have thrown less touchdown passes than the Browns. Only the Jets have thrown for less passing yards than the Browns, and their quarterbacks’ 56.5 completion percentage is the lowest in the league.

All the above can be attributed in large part to the ongoing saga of quarterback Deshaun Watson, who, following Cleveland’s game at Seattle on Sunday will have been on the field for only 12 snaps in the Browns’ last four games.

All 12 of those snaps came in the early moments of Cleveland’s 39-38 win over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday. Watson left the game near the end of the first quarter after sustaining a hard hit on his right shoulder. Although an MRI done this week showed no structural damage to Watson’s shoulder, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson will be held out of Sunday’s game in Seattle.

“I just feel like with what happened in the (Colts) game, landing on his shoulder, there’s residual swelling that affects his throwing,” Stefanski said. “I think it’s the best thing for him to rest this week and focus on the rehab.”

Watson’s current shoulder condition comes on the heels of a strained rotator cuff he suffered in the Browns’ third game of the season, against Tennessee.

Stefanski said he felt Watson was progressing in the right direction enough for him to start the game against the Colts. “But I felt with that hit (in the Colts game), I didn’t like that. It was right on the shoulder,” Stefanski said. “Then, coming out of it with swelling in the shoulder, I didn’t think that would put him in the best spot to practice this week.”

Said Watson: “Usually rotator cuffs are four to six weeks, but at the three to four weeks mark I just didn’t have the strength to be able to go out and play a full complete game,” Watson said. “Kevin decided to hold me out so I don’t do anything worse to it.”

Watson, who will accompany the Browns to Seattle for Sunday’s game, said he hopes to play again, “as soon as possible. Last week I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t.”

Fortunately for the Browns, backup quarterback P.J. Walker was ready. In relief of Watson, Walker completed 15 of 32 passes for 178 yards. Near the end of the game, with the Browns trailing the Colts 38-33, Walker led Cleveland on an impressive 12-play, 80-yard game-winning touchdown drive that ended with Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Browns a 39-38 victory.

Walker will have another test against the Seahawks on Sunday. Walker’s backup is Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who the Browns drafted out of UCLA in the fifth round in 2023. When asked if the Browns needed another quarterback, Stefanski replied, “No.” “I’m at ease with the guys we have.”

Being called out of the bullpen and guiding his team to a game-winning touchdown against the Colts on the road did not hinder Walker’s prospects of keeping the backup job.

“Every single one of his games, we’ve had to make a play, and he’s made them,” Stefanski said of Walker.

Walker will have the opportunity to make some decisions on Sunday in Seattle.