Deshaun Watson's 11-game suspension makes him unavailable for Bengals-Browns game

The NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement in the Deshaun Watson disciplinary matter, agreeing that the Cleveland Browns quarterback will serve an 11-game suspension without pay. With his suspension taking effect Aug. 30, he would be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 28 and available to play for the Browns in Week 13, when Cleveland faces his former team, the Texans, in Houston.

Watson would not be available to play Week 8 - on Oct. 31 - in the Cincinnati Bengals' first game on a Monday night in Cleveland since 1990. The second Bengals-Browns meeting - scheduled to take place in Week 14, on Dec. 11 at Paycor Stadium - would be Watson's second game back after his suspension.

The Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled to play two Monday Night Football games this season on ESPN/ABC, against the Browns in Cleveland and in Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills in Cincinnati on Jan. 2, 2023.

In May, the Bengals' DJ Reader said the Browns "got a lot better" by adding his former Houston Texans teammate, Watson, at quarterback. In June, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said the Browns had to take a chance at Watson because he's such a great player.

The Bengals-Bills game on MNF could feature the first matchup of two of the National Football League's star quarterbacks in Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Buffalo's Josh Allen.

The Bengals and Bills last met in Sept. 2019 - Allen's second season - in Buffalo, with the Bills winning 21-17. Allen completed 23-of-36 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bengals' quarterback was Andy Dalton.

The Bengals announced earlier that they'll open the season against the Steelers, for the first time. Cincinnati is scheduled to play a pair of Sunday Night Football games, including their second meeting of the season with Pittsburgh.

The Bengals' Week 4 meeting with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football could feature the first-ever NFL regular-season meeting between Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, the top two quarterbacks selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

More possible firsts include Burrow taking on Bucs QB and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Brady in Tampa, as well as Burrow returning with teammate Ja'Marr Chase to New Orleans' Superdome - where both helped LSU to a College Football Playoff National Championship - to face the Saints in Week 6.

The Bengals' remaining preseason schedule is highlighted by a Super Bowl rematch with the Los Angeles Rams at PBS.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Deshaun Watson's suspension means he'd miss one Bengals-Browns game