NY Jets to face backup QB in Week 2 following Watson suspension

Deshaun Watson suspension affects New York Jets’ Week 2 trip to Cleveland

On Monday, it was announced that former federal judge Sue L. Robinson made the decision to suspend Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for six games in the 2022 NFL regular season.

Former federal judge Sue L. Robinson has found that Deshaun Watson violated the personal conduct policy and has suspended him six games, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2022

The NFL has three days to appeal the decision.

This news has an effect on the New York Jets considering that they are scheduled to visit Watson’s Browns in Week 2 for a 1 p.m. ET clash at FirstEnergy Stadium in Ohio.

It has long been anticipated that Watson would not be active for the Jets game, and the official news of Watson’s suspension confirms it. We now know that the Jets will be facing a backup quarterback when they take on the Browns for their first road game of the season.

Cleveland’s primary backup to Watson is Jacoby Brissett. The former Patriots, Colts, and Dolphins quarterback owns a career record of 14-23 as a starter to go with his 83.0 passer rating. Brissett started five games for Miami in 2021 and went 2-3 with a 78.1 passer rating.

Following Brissett, the Browns’ quarterback depth chart is rounded out by Joshua Dobbs and Josh Rosen.

Dobbs was a 2017 fourth-round pick of the Steelers who has never started a regular season game. He only has six appearances and 17 pass attempts under his belt, earning a 39.1 passer rating on those throws.

Rosen was chosen by the Cardinals with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. After widely being rumored as a potential choice for the Jets in that draft, New York passed on Rosen in favor of Sam Darnold with the third overall pick.

The Browns are already Rosen’s sixth team. In his career, he has a 3-13 record as a starter along with a 61.1 passer rating.

For Cleveland, the Week 2 game against the Jets will be their home opener. They will open the 2022 season in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers, who now employ their former franchise quarterback, Baker Mayfield.

Ironically enough, Mayfield made his NFL debut against the Jets during a 2018 Thursday Night Football game. In Week 3, Mayfield came off the bench in relief of Tyrod Taylor and helped the Browns erase a 14-point deficit in a comeback victory.

Mayfield’s first home game as a Brown came against the Jets, and now, the Browns will play their first home game without Mayfield against the Jets.

New York’s last victory in Cleveland came in 2017, when Josh McCown led the Jets to a 17-14 win in Week 5. It gave the Jets a three-game winning streak and pushed their record to 3-2. As of today, it remains the most recent instance of the Jets having a winning record beyond the first week of the season.