Deshaun Watson downplays Cleveland Browns sideline dispute

LAS VEGAS – Late in the first half of the Cleveland Browns' 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, cameras captured quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston tackling right tackle Dawand Jones after a blown block.

Jones allowed defensive end Tyree Wilson a clear path to Watson on third down, and he was hit while launching a downfield pass to wide receiver Amari Cooper. The attempt failed because Cooper, who had freed himself from cornerback Jack Jones.

Watson was seen yelling and clapping his hands at Jones immediately after the game, and Winston was restrained by his teammates on the sideline.

After the game, everyone involved downplayed the interaction but lamented the error, resulting in a 20-16 loss, the Browns' second straight loss.

“I'm just trying to be great, that's all,” said Watson, who completed 24 of 32 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and an interception. “We just all have to get on the same page so we can perform and try to win and be explosive. That's it. We all knew it (the play would have been a touchdown). We just have to execute and be on the same page to make those big plays.

Jones, a fourth-round pick by the Browns in the 2023 draft, said he had no problem with the way Watson and Winston responded.

“I’m more angry at myself,” Jones said. “I just need to focus a little bit better on the number of games.

“It’s just a mental mistake and we can’t have that.”

Jones said Watson came up to him on the sideline afterward to offer him words of encouragement.

“He told me that I was the best tackle in the league and that I had to prove it every second,” Jones said.

The loss left the Browns at 1-3 for the first time under coach Kevin Stefanski.

“No frustration,” Winston said. “It's just a standard that we all hold ourselves to and we all have to be accountable to that. We have a standard. We must be accountable to this standard. It’s all an encouragement.”

“That’s all I do when I’m out there. I encourage my boys to go higher and get better.”

The Browns' next game is October 6th on the road against the Washington Commanders.