Decision not to let Deshaun Watson play and the performance of QB Room

Watson was ruled out before the game and Stefanski said that since Watson had already played in the preseason – and other players were also not playing – it was the best decision to rest Watson. However, Stefanski said he had “a good feeling” about Watson’s arm and confirmed that he would return to full practice in the coming week.

“With Deshaun, being mindful of the guys that weren’t there on offense — not just the offensive line — but I just didn’t feel like it was the best thing to put him in that environment,” Stefanski said. “I’m very confident with the amount of work he’s done so far in the spring and summer, and he’ll be ready in Week 1.”

QB Jameis Winston was up first, leading the Browns’ first two offensive drives before Dorian Thompson took over for Robinson and Tyler Huntley finished the game. Stefanski said Winston ran the offense well, making some solid throws down the field as well as some explosive plays.

Stefanski also saw some strong moments from Thompson-Robinson as he led the offense at the end of the first quarter and throughout the second quarter. Thompson-Robinson finished the game completing 11 of 20 passing attempts for 115 yards and a touchdown.

“Obviously that was a really good play when he threw the ball to Jamari Thrash, who got hit,” Stefanski said. “So a good performance. And that goes back to Dorian doing a good job since he got back on the court in June when he got back on the court. And he’s done a good job since then.”

In the second half of the game, Huntley connected with pass receivers in the end zone three times, once with WR James Proche II on a six-yard pass and twice with WR Michael Woods II on consecutive offensive drives.

“Snoop (Huntley) has played a lot of good football for us in his career, a lot of good football,” Stefanski said. “He’s a playmaker. You saw that. You saw that tonight, when things aren’t going his way, he finds a way to make a play, so I thought he did a really good job.”