The Cleveland Browns are dealing with a quarterback dilemma ahead of their Week 6 clash against the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers.
Deshaun Watson reportedly did not practice Monday due to a right shoulder injury that sidelined him for Week 4, though the Browns' recent bye week still might not have supplied him enough time to get healthy.
If Watson can't go on Sunday, the Browns will pivot to P.J. Walker over rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, The OBR's Brad Stainbrook reported Tuesday, citing sources.
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Walker also is on the Browns' practice squad, so he'll need to be elevated should Watson be ruled out. Once a player has three elevations, they have to go through waivers before being eligible to re-sign to the practice squad.
The 28-year-old Walker has yet to appear in a game this season. Thompson-Robinson got the nod in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, but he couldn't get anything going in the 28-3 home loss where he completed just 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards with no touchdown passes and three interceptions. He also was sacked four times.
A product of Temple, Walker has just seven starts to his name since his first appearance as a Carolina Panther, where he played from 2020 to 2022.
San Francisco 49ers
Five of those starts came last season during the Panthers' quarterback carousel. In all six appearances last year, Walker totaled 731 passing yards while completing 63 of 106 passes for three touchdowns and three picks.
If Walker does start, it'll be a tough task at hand against a 49ers defense that is ranked No. 1 in points allowed (13.6), No. 3 in yards per pass allowed (5.0) and No. 5 in opposition interceptions thrown percentage (3.98 percent), among other statistical categories.