Former Clemson Star Deshaun Watson Told Logan Ryan He Plans to Start vs. Texans

Before Sunday's game in New Orleans, former Clemson Tigers star Deshaun Watson told Logan Ryan he plans to start for the Cleveland Browns next week against the Houston Texans, Ryan said Monday on Up & Adams.

Ryan passed that along the day after Watson sat out as inactive, with Shedeur Sanders starting in his place in a 23-22 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints, who won it by stopping a two-point try.

“I will also give you some inside,” Ryan said. “I spoke to Deshaun before the game, and he told me that he has all intentions of starting next week, and that he’s being safe with himself, and the team’s being safe with him. That he will be playing next week. That was before the game.”

What Ryan described was a pregame conversation with Watson, relayed secondhand on the show, and not an announcement from the team.

Watson went into the concussion protocol after the Browns' 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, where the Steelers sacked him eight times. Browns coach Todd Monken named Sanders the starter for New Orleans while Watson was still in the protocol, and although Watson cleared it before kickoff, he was inactive.

“Now he wasn’t dressed, right, to play,” Ryan explained. “But I’ve seen quarterbacks play without practicing before all week. So they decided it was Shedeur’s opportunity. Deshaun was banged up, and Shedeur was going to get opportunity.”

“Todd Monken told me in production meetings that we need to see Shedeur play,” Ryan continued. “This year, for the future in general, for the Browns quarterback future, we need to see Shedeur get an opportunity. That was Shedeur’s opportunity. He did a lot with that.”

Sanders, making his first start of the season, threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing and did not throw an interception.

“Now, Shedeur Sanders went out there and did his thing and handled that offense well,” Ryan said. “They were explosive with Shedeur there, and he did the most of his opportunity. So I’m just giving you all the inside info I have on it. That’s the Browns’ decision. They can go either way. Shedeur obviously could be the future there in Cleveland. Deshaun, I think, has done enough to keep the spot.”

“So what they decide to do is on Todd Monken and the Browns and the Browns fans,” Ryan continued. “Y’all have at it. I gave you everything I have on my inside, but Deshaun Watson is under the assumption that he will be starting next week.”

In three seasons at Clemson, Watson established himself as one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. He put up 10,163 passing yards, 90 passing touchdowns, 1,934 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. 

Watson won the 2015 ACC Offensive Player of the Year award and led Clemson to the National Championship on January 9, 2017, against Alabama. The college football legend had 420 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 43 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown against Nick Saban's squad. 

Watson is second in Clemson history in passing yards, tied for second in passing touchdowns with Trevor Lawrence and fourth in completions.