Stephen A Smith makes ‘uncomfortable’ NFL Comeback Player case for Browns QB Deshaun Watson
The Cleveland Browns are 5-2 entering a key AFC North game against Pittsburgh, with quarterback Deshaun Watson’s improved play helping their unexpected start. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says Watson should currently be the favourite for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, though he acknowledged that the argument may feel “uncomfortable” given Watson’s past.
Watson has thrown for more than 1,400 yards in seven games and has led Cleveland’s five wins, each of which came from behind in the fourth quarter. His return follows seasons limited by lawsuits, a suspension and shoulder and Achilles injuries; he has played seven or fewer games in each season since leading the NFL in passing in 2020. The Browns have never won the AFC North title.
In short
- Smith backs Watson for Comeback Player of the Year.
- Cleveland is 5-2, with five fourth-quarter comeback wins.
- The Browns have never won the AFC North.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Watson’s case rests on the award’s focus on returning to the field and contributing after a prolonged absence: he has played only a handful of games in recent seasons and is helping lead an unexpectedly successful Browns campaign. His passing production and repeated fourth-quarter comebacks give supporters a strong sporting argument, while recognising that the award is not a judgement on his character.
The case against
The award also carries public meaning, so voters may reasonably consider whether celebrating Watson’s return risks appearing to minimise the serious allegations and consequences that kept him out. They could conclude that the honour should recognise a comeback whose broader significance is easier to celebrate, or that Watson’s current performance, after seven games, is not yet enough to make him the clear favourite.