On to Cincinnati: Kevin Stefanski confident Deshaun Watson will improve from Browns debut

Harrison Bryant would know how Deshaun Watson's Browns debut really went in Houston. The tight end was on the field on almost 60% of the Browns' offensive plays.

That gives Bryant first-hand knowledge of what it was like in the huddle for the 27-14 win over the Texans. What the third-year pro saw was a quarterback who − despite not playing in a regular-season game for 700 days, and never for his current team − had the command of the huddle, even if the offensive performance didn't match that command.

“I think he brought a great energy to the huddle," Bryant said during a Zoom call with the media Monday. "He was composed and confident out there in the huddle. He recited the play calls really well and commanded the huddle. Honestly as an offense as a whole, we didn’t play how we wanted to play, but that was a part of him coming back, and it is not only him; it takes all 11 to be successful in the game. This week, we are going to come back, get back to work and just focus on going 1-0 this week.”

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Watson's return from an 11-game suspension was shaky in terms of production. He completed 12-of-22 passes for 131 yards with an interception.

First impressions are awfully difficult to escape. While Watson did have three series in the preseason in Jacksonville − also shaky in many ways − Sunday in Houston was his first real opportunity with the Browns.

The results which were produced, naturally, led to plenty of eyebrow-raising among observers. Coach Kevin Stefanski believes what happened against the Texans is more by-product of time off than of talent being off.

“Kind of like we talked about yesterday, that was the first one and the first one in a long time so we knew that there was going to be a little bit of playing through that" Stefanski said Monday. "I think he gets that. He will get more comfortable with the more game reps that he gets. I think all of those things that you look at offensively and all of those things that you look at with Deshaun, they are all correctable.”

Correctable in enough time to help the Browns, now 5-7 and on a two-game win streak, go on the road and continue their recent mastery of the Cincinnati Bengals? That remains to be seen.

Certainly, the Browns need to see Watson take a step forward over the next week. Otherwise, the chances of them extending their win streak over the Southwest Ohio rivals to six games diminish significantly considering the level at which the Bengals have played over the last month.

Watson himself understood that when he addressed his first start of the season less than an hour after it ended.

“That's the rule of the game, just try and improve each and every week," Watson said. "Next week, I definitely need to be better. I will be better. The team will be better. The goal is to be 1-0. I'm not sure how the outcome of the game is going to be or what is going to take place or what the defense is going to do or the situations of the game. I can't really control that until that play happens. But that's ultimately the goal. We celebrate, get on the plane, get back to Cleveland. Once we get back, we have to turn the page, watch the film, fix the mistakes, and get ready for Cincinnati.”

Joe Burrow and Cincinnati Bengals on four-game winning streak

Cincinnati has won four in a row since leaving Cleveland with a 32-12 loss on Oct. 31. The last two weeks have been especially impressive: The Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs in consecutive games.

The Bengals have done so because quarterback Joe Burrow has played like the elite talent that he has been. The Browns, in order to drop Burrow's record against them to 0-5, need Watson to play at the level they expected when they traded for him in March.

“I think it could be really big," Bryant said. "Obviously, he is extremely talented. In the past, he has played really well. I wouldn’t say expect it, but everyone that has some time off even just from the offseason, it takes a while to get back into the rhythm. He has been out for a while, and I think he is just continue to make huge strides because he is an extremely talented player.”

Deshaun Watson struggles with accuracy happened in preseason

One of the most obvious issues Watson had against Houston was something he also struggled with in the preseason. That was accuracy with his throws.

It wasn't a case of just missing receivers. Several passes were delivered low, forcing the receiver to have to lunge for the ball instead of being able to make a play after the catch.

Stefanski said Monday he believes that's something that can be fixed. Watson said after the game it's just another thing that having a game under his belt will correct.

"It was just more so of getting out there and being able to play," Watson said. "Live bullets are coming at you. For the past however long, since I've been back on the practice field, guys are coming towards me, but they're not allowed to hit me. This is the first time I've had action other than the preseason game, which was eight plays, I think, where guys were coming at me full speed and trying to get the ball from me. Like I said, it's just knocking off the rust and getting the timing down with the receivers and the offense and knowing who is blocking for me up front and how they block and where they're going to sit in a situation. So, it was the first time for live action, but it was good to feel it.”

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kevin Stefanski confident Deshaun Watson will grow from Browns debut