This isn’t too surprising, but it is disappointing. Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss his team’s first six games this year, but not their late-season matchup with the New Orleans Saints. An independent arbitrator, Judge Sue Robinson, recommended Watson be suspended the first six games of the 2022 season — barring an appeal from the NFL, in which case league commissioner Roger Goodell (or his designee) could issue a longer suspension. Watson’s representatives and the NFL Players Association have both previously said they will not challenge Judge Robinson’s ruling, so Goodell has three days to decide the next step. For now, we’ll assume Watson serves the six-game suspension.
So this has several impacts for the Saints. The most pressing matter is that Watson, a player the Saints put a ton of effort into recruiting for themselves, will be suiting up against them when they visit the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Week 16; that’s going to be a chilly and possibly snowy game on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.
Dennis Allen wouldn’t have steered the Saints towards pursuing Watson so strongly if he didn’t appreciate the challenge in stopping such a talented quarterback. Unless Goodell overrules the initial suspension in favor of a yearlong punishment, Watson will be leading Cleveland’s offense against Allen’s defense. He’s only faced the Saints once before, taking six sacks in a too-close 30-28 loss won with a late Wil Lutz field goal from 58 yards out. It’ll be tough.
