Deshaun Watson reveals why he left the field and was taken over by Shedeur Sanders
A scary moment late in the game raised concerns before the quarterback revealed what really happened.
Almost everything went according to script for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the newly opened Huntington Bank Field . They edged the Carolina Panthers 21-18 in a tense, hard-fought win, but the real story was Deshaun Watson ’s return as the clear leader of the offense.
The quarterback delivered a performance full of grit that, for better or worse, appears to have shifted the perception of Cleveland fans in the span of a single game. The defining moment came on the final offensive drive, when he led the decisive comeback with under two minutes remaining to secure a win that had seemed to be slipping away.
Before becoming the hero, however, Watson briefly set off alarm bells within the team when he had to leave the field after what appeared to be a possible head injury.
With 2:36 left on the clock and Cleveland trailing 18-13 , Watson took the snap from the shotgun and threw toward KC Concepcion as the Panthers ’ pass rush closed in. The pass was intercepted, but during the play linebacker Bobby Okereke delivered a hit to the quarterback’s head area, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty.
Watson remained on the ground and began gesturing with his hand. The Browns pulled him from the game and briefly inserted Shedeur Sanders for one play before the veteran quarterback returned to finish the drive that flipped the outcome.
Deshaun Watson clarifies what happened
The big question was whether Watson had made a surprising recovery to return and rescue Cleveland , or whether he was playing through a possible concussion.
The quarterback explained that the hit simply knocked the wind out of him and that his hand gesture was not related to a head injury, but rather an attempt to find out whether the officials had thrown a flag.
“I just lost my breath. I guess they thought it was my head and I just lost my breath, and I was asking my guys if it was a flag. And I just was trying to catch my breath honestly.”
Watson also made clear that he felt several plays during the game should have drawn penalties.
“I felt like a lot of things should have gotten a flag. It happens.”
