Browns Reacts Week 8 – Should Cleveland go out and get Jacoby Brissett?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cleveland Browns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

We finally saw the Cleveland Browns get a two-game winning streak, so the “W” pattern of fan confidence from week-to-week should end for at least a week. With that said, how will the confidence meter be impacts? Will it tick up, tick down, or stay level? A win usually makes it go up, but Browns fans saw their defense get shredded for the first time this season, and also saw continued inconsistency at the quarterback position.

We are asking two other questions this week. The first question asks who should receive the bulk of carries while RB Jerome Ford is out: Kareem Hunt or Pierre Strong? Hunt might be the popular answer, but the team may want to keep him in his standard role, which would mean swapping a guy like Strong into the starting lineup.

The other question asks, “Should the Browns try to trade for QB Jacoby Brissett?” DBN’s Thomas Moore recently talked about the team’s failed quarterback situation and brought up the possibility of Brissett, but we’re putting it to a poll with the trade deadline looming.

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Update: Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that Watson will miss Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson left Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts in the first quarter after banging his head on the turf. He ultimately passed through the NFL concussion protocol, but did not return to action.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that his goal was to make sure Watson wasn’t hit further after he missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury. The struggling, high-priced quarterback underwent a series of tests after the game, including an MRI.

There is some good news on this front. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reports that an MRI revealed no further damage to Watson’s shoulder. He’s still working to re-acquire strength and is considered day-to-day. Officially, Watson will be questionable for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

In reality, Watson has not been his former Pro Bowl self since Cleveland acquired him from the Houston Texans ahead of the 2022 season. In 10 starts with the team, he’s thrown a mere 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions.

This is not what the Browns had envisioned when they signed the former Pro Bowler to a fully-guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. As of right now, they just need to make sure he’s close to 100% before throwing the high-priced signal caller back out there. A long-term injury would have wide-ranging ramifications for the organization.