Deshaun Watson makes feelings clear on Texans reunion as DeMeco Ryans delivers verdict
· Yahoo Sports
Deshaun Watson has played down the significance of facing his former team as the Cleveland Browns prepare to take on the Houston Texans in Week 10.
The quarterback will meet Houston for just the second time since being traded to Cleveland, having previously spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the franchise that drafted him 12th overall in 2017.
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However, Watson insists his attention is firmly on helping the Browns return to winning ways and remain in the playoff hunt.
DeMeco Ryans praises Deshaun Watson ahead of Houston Texans reunion
Speaking to reporters, Watson made it clear that the personal storyline surrounding the reunion was no longer important to him.
“It’s a big opportunity for us. Get back on the winning track, especially get in front of our home fans. That’s the ultimate focus, is focus on that. All the outside things, going against my former team, that stuff was in the past. Four, five years ago? Yeah, it was a big deal,” Watson said.
“Now, I think both sides have moved on, and we’re just both trying to find ways to win and continue to put ourselves in position for later on down the road.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans also had plenty of praise for Watson, highlighting his decision-making and ability to escape pressure.
“I’ve seen a guy who’s being very decisive with the football. He’s getting the ball out of his hands very quickly. When it’s not there, it’s his athletic ability to escape the pocket,” Ryans said.
He also pointed to Watson’s performances in important moments, adding: “The thing that showed up the most for me watching the Browns throughout this year is how they performed in those clutch moments and those two-minute moments situations. Deshaun has really rose to the occasion, and he’s made some really big plays to put their team in position to win a lot of football games.”
Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr. expects the quarterback’s mobility to present a difficult challenge.
Anderson described Watson as a dynamic quarterback and stressed that the Texans’ defensive line must rush together rather than leave gaps for him to exploit.
Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud was equally respectful of his fellow quarterback, saying: “I got a lot of appreciation for Deshaun. He was good to me when I was in college, and been a big fan of his when he played here as well.”
The Browns enter the matchup at 5-3, while Watson will be looking to help his side get back on track against a Houston team that knows his game well.
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