Confident Brissett ready to step in as Browns QB when Watson is banished

Aug. 2—Jacoby Brissett has starred in this movie before, and not that long ago.

Now that a six-game suspension for Deshaun Watson has been recommended by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson — the NFL has until 9 a.m. Aug. 4 to appeal her ruling if it wants a longer suspension — Brissett knows for certain he will be the Browns' starting quarterback, barring injury.

Brissett was with the Colts in 2019 as the backup to Andrew Luck. Luck abruptly retired two weeks before the season began. Suddenly, Brissett was the starter.

Brissett and the Colts lost the 2019 season opener and lost to the Chargers, 30-24, but then they won five of their next six games. Seven games into the season, Brissett had thrown 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Confident Jacoby Brissett says other stops on his NFL trail have prepared him to step in as the #Browns starting quarterback during Deshaun Watson's suspension. pic.twitter.com/eG72TIr9Pn

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) August 2, 2022

Browns middle linebacker Anthony Walker played for the Colts in 2019. He, more than anyone, knows the Browns can be in good hands with Brissett at quarterback.

"It was one of the most thrilling times of my career," Walker said before practice Aug. 2. "People forget we were a really good football team with him as our starting quarterback before we had a lot of guys go down. I think we were 5-2, just beat Kansas City in Kansas City.

PHOTOS: Browns training camp, Aug. 2, 2022

"We were rolling at that point, but we happened to take a couple of bad bumps and get a lot of guys injured. But Jacoby is a pro. He's always prepared to go. He's always ready, so he doesn't have to get ready."

Brissett suffered a left knee injury in the second quarter of a game with the Steelers on Nov. 3, 2019. The injury prevented him from playing in a game with the Dolphins the next week. The Colts were just 2-5 when Brissett returned.

Kevin Stefanski on Brissett, Watson and Amari Cooper's injury. #Browns pic.twitter.com/xIQHrlzhAp

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) August 2, 2022

The difference between 2019 and now is Brissett knows he will be the Browns' starter for at least six games if he stays healthy. He finished that 2019 season 7-8 as a starter. He was 4-11 with the Colts in 2017 when Luck missed the season with a shoulder injury and 2-3 in five starts with the Dolphins last season.

The losing record has not shaken Brissett's confidence. He said support from his mother, Lisa Brown, and other family members instilled a confidence in him that can't be shattered.

"My brothers, my mom, my high school coaches — everybody who had a part in me getting to this position," Brissett said. "I think that's been something that's never wavered is my confidence. Those people who I have close to me have extreme confidence in me, so why would I doubt myself?"

Brissett is not a Deshaun Watson clone. Otherwise another team might have signed him to a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract. Instead, Brissett signed with the Browns for one year and $4.65 million.

Watson is more mobile than Brissett. He has a better touch on deep balls. Both are precise on their short passes.

"There are certain plays that you would run with Deshaun that you won't run with Jacoby," Coach Kevin Stefanski said. "There are certain plays that Jacoby sees really well and maybe has a lot of reps on that Deshaun doesn't. Part of our job as coaches is understanding that there is no shortage of plays that you can run, but it's making sure that the players are comfortable running those plays."

Brissett is 14-23 as a starter with 36 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions thrown. He averages 6.4 yards per pass attempt.

Watson is 28-25 as a starter with 104 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions from 2017-20 when he played for the Texans. He averages 8.3 yards per pass attempt.

Amari Cooper update

Amari Cooper was held from practice Aug. 2 because of a right ankle injury suffered late in practice Aug. 1, but the injury isn't serious.

"He'll be back in a couple days," Stefanski said.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and right tackle Jack Conklin were given Aug. 2 off, as scheduled. It was the first practice of the summer in pads.

Wide receiver David Bell (foot), punter Corey Bojorquez (right foot), defensive tackle Sheldon Day (back), cornerback Reggie Robinson II (core muscle), wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (knee), linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (groin), cornerback Denzel Ward (foot) and wide receiver Javon Wims (illness) did not practice.

—Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie cornerback Martin Emerson got into a brief shoving match on the sideline as Emerson covered DPJ on a pass route. The skirmish ended quickly.