Deshaun Watson uncertainty puts more focus on Jacoby Brissett once Browns open training camp

CLEVELAND – The offseason program was essentially spent with the Browns preparing for one quarterback to start. By the time training camp begins in late July, a different QB could be the starter.

Deshaun Watson was heavily involved in almost all drills throughout both the voluntary offseason workouts and the recently-concluded minicamp. He did so despite knowing of the potential of an NFL suspension due to a violation of the personal conduct policy in connection to the 24 civil lawsuits in Texas alleging sexual misconduct while getting massages.

Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett, who is expected to be the starter during any Watson suspension, received limited reps with the first unit during that same time. The lack of snaps doesn't mean there's necessarily been a lack of preparation.

“I wouldn’t be in the position that I am in today if I worried about things like that,” Brissett said during the second day of the Browns' voluntary offseason workout program. “I’ve always prepared myself like a starter. I carry myself like a starter because when those opportunities present themselves, I want to show that I am that.”

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has maintained whenever asked about Brissett and his offseason reps that he and his staff are comfortable with the arrangement. However, he has left the door open to a different approach once training camp opens July 27.

By that time, it is expected that the NFL will have issued its ruling from the Watson investigation. The court trials aren't expected to begin until March of next year.

"It’s one of those things that it might happen, it might not, we don’t know," guard Joel Bitonio said during minicamp of the uncertainty of a Watson suspension. "And we can’t truly worry about it, but if it does, I think we have the right character in the room to handle that adversity."

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Thursday the NFL Players' Association is bracing for "unprecedented discipline" against Watson as some in the league office reportedly want him sidelined until the civil cases are settled. The Washington Post published a story Friday citing a source close to Watson's camp saying a "full season" could be on the table.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined comment on the report.

Florio's report said the NFLPA's appeal strategy would center on weak to non-existent penalties imposed on owners such as New England's Robert Kraft or Washington's Daniel Snyder for their own violations of the same policy. That policy specifically states, "Ownership and club or league management have traditionally been held to a higher standard and will be subject to more significant discipline when violations of the Personal Conduct Policy occur.”

That likely means a firm number may not be known until much closer to the season. Which puts even more onus on Brissett, who signed a one-year, $4.65 million contract with the Browns on March 19, a day after they acquired Watson from Houston.

"I do have confidence in Jacoby," Stefanski said during minicamp. "He has played a lot of football for a young player. He is a smart player. He takes care of the football. Good size, can make all of the throws and those type of things."

Brissett came to the Browns after a season with the Miami Dolphins, in which he went 2-3 as a starter in place of Tua Tagovailoa. He completed 141-of-225 (62.7%) of his passes for 1,283 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

Prior to the Dolphins, Brissett spent four years with the Indianapolis Colts (2017-20) and one with the New England Patriots (2106). He started 15 games for the Colts twice, in 2017 and 2019, along with two starts for a suspended Tom Brady and an injured Jimmy Garoppolo for the Patriots.

Brissett has played 60 NFL games and is 14-23 as a starter. He has completed 727-of-1,208 passes (60.2%) in his career for 7,742 yards and 36 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a rating of 83. He also has rushed for 653 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"He has been in multiple offenses," Stefanski said. "Our offense is a little bit different than what he has done previously. He has a really, really good understanding of football — football intelligence that is — so I just think he is a really good operator.”

All three quarterbacks at minicamp for the Browns – Watson, Brissett and Joshua Dobbs – are new to the organization.

Dobbs spent all but one of the past five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed a one-year deal in April to, in a world where all three were eligible, be the No. 3 quarterback.

So that meant all three spent the offseason working to pick up the scheme from Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Yet, only one truly got a chance to run that scheme significantly in practice with the first unit: Watson.

Adding to that is Stefanski's own words about a quarterback's ability to "master" an offense, which is something Brissett vowed to do when he arrived.

"I do not think you can [in the offseason]," Stefanski said. "I think you can introduce it and I think you can get comfortable with it, but we do want to become masters of the offense by the time Week 1 rolls around. It is a process. You can’t just plug something into the back of your head and get it. You have to work at it and spend some time with it."

How much of that on-field time will be dedicated to Brissett is among the bigger questions heading into training camp. The biggest question: How much time will Watson be on the field during the regular season?

The answers, or at least much more definitive idea of those answers, should be known by the time the Browns get back together in Berea for camp.

“Everybody has to be ready to play, and then as more information becomes available, then we can adjust how we structure practice, how we structure rotations and those type of things,” Stefanski said in April. “Absent that information, I can’t really speculate just yet. But certainly as more information comes out, we will be ready to adjust.”

Reach Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jacoby Brissett is Browns' focus if Deshaun Watson is suspended