The NFL Players Association did not appeal the six-game suspension of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. So, unless the appeal filed by the NFL results in no suspension (highly unlikely), Watson will miss the first six weeks of the regular season. The question is whether he will return in week seven, in Baltimore. If he is handed a longer suspension on appeal and a lawsuit challenging the league’s process is filed, the earliest he would return is week seven — if the lawsuit produces the desired results. By the first week, he can practice and play. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Browns plan to use Watson during the preseason. Whether he will play in all three games and the extent of his playing time remains to be seen. There is one last thing to remember. The appeal could potentially result in an immediate suspension lasting at least a year. It’s possible that a ban of that length would have resulted in Watson being banned outright. The Browns play the Jaguars next Friday. They host the Eagles and Bears in Weeks Two and Three of the preseason, respectively.
