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Deshaun Watson downplays Cleveland Browns sideline spat
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Deshaun Watson downplays Cleveland Browns sideline spat

LAS VEGAS – Near the end of the first half of the Cleveland Browns’ 16-20 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, cameras caught quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston punishing right tackle Dawand Jones after a blown block.

Jones gave defensive end Tyree Wilson a clear path to Watson on the third down play, and he was hit as he launched a downfield pass to wide receiver Amari Cooper. The attempt fell incomplete to Cooper, who had broken away from cornerback Jack Jones.

Watson shouted and clapped his hands at Jones immediately after the play, and Winston was restrained by teammates on the sideline.

After the game, everyone involved downplayed the interaction but regretted the mistake in a 20-16 loss, the Browns’ second straight loss.

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

Jones, a fourth-round pick of 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 have to pay more attention to the number of games.

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

Jones said Watson then approached him on the sideline to give him words of encouragement.

“He told me I was the best tackle in the league and I have to show that on every down,” Jones said.

The loss dropped the Browns to 1-3 for the first time under coach Kevin Stefanski.

“No frustration,” Winston said. “It’s just a standard that we all adhere to, and we all have to be accountable for that. We have a standard. We must be accountable to that standard. It’s all encouragement.

“That’s all I do when I’m there: encourage my guys to move up and get better.”

The Browns’ next game is on October 6 against the Washington Commanders.