Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski reveals why Deshaun Watson left the field in the middle of an NFL game

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has lifted the lid on the chaos that led to Deshaun Watson walking off the field in the middle of Sunday's loss to the Commanders.

The Browns' dismal start to the season continued as they were dismantled by a Jayden Daniels-inspired Washington team.

Stefanski was in disbelief at his own quarterback when Watson left the huddle and headed toward the sideline in the third quarter.

Trailing by 21 on the 4th and the final goal scored, the head coach decided to keep the offense on the field in a desperate attempt for Cleveland to fight their way back into the contest.

A few moments later, however, Watson was gone from the field and the Browns attempted a field goal.

Browns star Deshaun Watson left the field on a fourth-down play during Sunday's game

The quarterback stunned head coach Kevin Stefanski, who went for it on 4th-and-goal

Watson appeared to defy his coach, who took off his headset in frustration before covering his mouth and talking to his quarterback.

Many NFL fans accused the 29-year-old on social media of effectively resigning from his team.

Stefanski later explained that it was a mistake by the Browns that led to Watson leaving the field.

“We had the wrong number of people in the huddle and at that point we just wanted to shoot the field goal,” he said.

“Obviously we had penalties and some misunderstandings that were entirely my fault. “I take responsibility for all of that. To me this looks like losing football, I'm going to get it fixed.'

When it was repeatedly pointed out that the Browns had 12 men on the field, Stefanski admitted: “It's really frustrating, we'll fix it.” “Before we hit anyone, you have to stop hitting yourself.”

He added: “We have to play better on offense, we have to train better on offense.”

Watson was sacked seven times as Cleveland suffered a 34-13 loss to the Commanders

The head coach could be seen talking to the signal caller on the sidelines

Watson has regularly made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years.

The 29-year-old was traded to the Browns in 2022 for six draft picks, including three first-rounders – despite being sued by more than two dozen massage therapists for sexual harassment and sexual assault the year before.

Since the trade, he has signed a five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed.

Watson has been embroiled in various lawsuits over the past three seasons and previously reached confidential settlements with 20 women over sexual misconduct claims that led to him being suspended for 11 NFL games during the 2022 season.

Last month it was revealed that he is being sued for more than $1 million by a new woman who has accused him of sexually assaulting her in Texas four years ago. Watson “strongly” denies the allegations.

Meanwhile, on the field, the Browns are now 1-4 after a miserable start to the season. Cleveland faces the Philadelphia Eagles on the road next week.

After Watson left the field on Sunday, the Browns had to take a delay penalty and settle for a field goal, making the score 24-6.

The Cleveland Browns suffered another embarrassment, losing 34-13 to the Commanders

Some supporters recently called for Watson to be benched because of his sexual assault allegations

If they had converted the touchdown attempt — like Stefanski wanted — the Browns could have made it a two-score game.

There were reportedly heated arguments between Stefanski and Watson during Sunday's game, with the quarterback and coach seen yelling at each other multiple times during the 34-13 loss.

According to ESPN ratings, Watson is the worst-performing quarterback in the NFL. And after another dismal afternoon for Cleveland, Stefanski talked about his future as a starter.

“We don’t change quarterbacks,” he said. “We have to play better.” I have to train better. That's really it.'

A three-yard touchdown run by Jeremy McNichols, followed by a field goal by Austin Seibert, gave Washington a dominant 34-6 lead at the end of the third.

Cleveland finally managed to find the end zone in the fourth quarter when Watson hit Jordan Akins on a ten-yard pass, but it came a little too late as the Commanders escaped with a 34-13 victory.

Last month, some Browns fans called for Watson to be benched after sexual assault allegations emerged.

Watson was traded to the Browns in 2022 for six draft picks, including three first-rounders

“Deshaun Watson has looked like the worst quarterback in the NFL every week for the last three years and there are still people who say he's just a little rusty,” one fan wrote.

“I’m legitimately not sure there are five quarterbacks in the league worse than Deshaun Watson,” another added.

“The Browns-Deshaun Watson deal is the worst deal in history and I'm sure it will never be topped,” said a third.

Former quarterback Warren Moon, meanwhile, claimed that Watson's on-field issues are related to his off-field drama.

“He's still dealing with all the crap he was dealing with a few years ago, the lawsuits and all that,” Moon told TMZ. “And now suddenly there is another lawsuit.

“It seems like he's in the process of perhaps getting his career back on track after overcoming the lawsuits – and then the injuries he's suffered over the last few years – there's another one coming.”

Moon added: “It seems like every time he goes on the field he plays with a heavy head and can't concentrate on the game.”