Rumor has it 49ers won't play Browns QB Deshaun Watson, rather P.J. Walker instead

The 49ers travel to take on the Browns in Week 6, but it's looking like Deshaun Watson won't be under center for Cleveland.

East Coast road trips are always tough for any West Coast team, and the undefeated San Francisco 49ers will be making their first trip away from Northern California following a three-game home stand and their Week 1 road victory in the eastern time zone over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This time, it'll be against the 2-2 Cleveland Browns, who just happen to be coming off a bye week.

Cleveland's defense might be solid enough to give the Niners some fits, particularly with edge Myles Garrett always in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year. At the same time, though, similar sentiments were echoed about the Dallas Cowboys, on whom San Francisco dropped 42 points on Sunday Night Football last week.

But this will be a road game for the 49ers, and it'll come on the heels of a highly anticipated rivalry game, which sets up the possibility of a trap.

Except there's one rumor that could end up benefiting the Niners this upcoming Sunday.

49ers may not play Brown QB Deshaun Watson but rather P.J. Walker in Week 6

Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson is dealing with a shoulder injury that forced him to miss Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, a game Cleveland lost with backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the helm.

According to cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns haven't yet decided on whether or not the highly paid quarterback will start on Sunday against San Francisco. According to Cabot, the argument was that Watson was a late scratch in Week 4, which led to Thompson-Robinson getting the surprise start, which did not go well.

Related story: 49ers vs. Browns: Week 6 betting odds, game time, TV and streaming info

Cabot also alluded to veteran quarterback P.J. Walker getting the start over Thompson-Robinson, should Watson be unable to go.

Walker last played for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 under then-interim head coach Steve Wilks, who just so happens to be the 49ers' defensive coordinator now.

Should Walker wind up starting, going up against Wilks will easily be a storyline worth watching when these two teams kick off from Cleveland on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. ET.

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