SEATTLE — P.J. Walker has promised Deshaun Watson over the past three weeks to keep to the Browns’ train chugging along in Watson’s absence.
The previous two weeks, in victories over the 49ers and Colts, it worked beautifully for Walker. But on Sunday in Seattle, his three turnovers were too much for the Browns to overcome — especially his fateful interception on third and 3 that led to the Seahawks’ game-winning touchdown pass with 38 seconds left in their 24-20 victory.
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The loss dropped the Browns to 4-3, two games behind the 6-2 Ravens and tied with the Steelers and Bengals.
“I said right before I stepped on that football field, I tell him I’ve got him and let him know that I’m going to go out there and handle the business for him,” Walker said after the loss. “He’s just continued to help me week in and week out every day on the sideline and practice.”
With Watson on the sideline in athletic gear and a beanie while resting his strained right rotator cuff, Walker tried desperately to hold down the fort for the third straight week, but there are only so many rabbits a recent practice-squader can pull out of a hat.
Walker (15 of 31, 248 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 59.6 rating) threw two interceptions and was strip-sacked once, leading directly to 14 of the Seahawks points.
On his second pick, with 1:57 left in the game and the Browns clinging to their 20-17 lead, his pass to Amari Cooper on a deep slant to the right from his 41 was soccer-headed high into the air by a blitzing Jamal Adams, and picked off by safety Julian Love.
“It was a one-high, two-high read,” Walker said. “They played 44 palms, they blitzed the nickel. The inside, we were throwing double slants to the field. Was just trying to put the ball on Coop, let him fall for the first down. Got tipped in the air. That’s just out of our control for that one.”
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith took over at his 43 and fired the 9 yard game-winning TD pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the fifth play, with 38 seconds left in the game. Walker’s last-ditch effort — two short incompletions to Cooper and Moore and then a sack — fell flat.
“If I’m going to be playing, I’ve got to play better to give us a better chance,” Walker said.
The question is, will Walker have a chance to redeem himself next week against the Cardinals? Watson, working through pain, weakness and swelling in his shoulder, is still day-to-day. It’s anybody’s guess if he’ll return to face his good friend Joshua Dobbs against the Cardinals next Sunday.
“We’ll see,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “He’s fighting like crazy. He’ll be back when he’s ready.”
If Walker starts next week, he must protect the football at all costs. He put on another scrappy, gutsy performance and made some big-time throws.
But it’s a boom-or-bust proposition with Walker: the big plays come with costly gunslinging interceptions. In his three appearances — he came off the bench late in the first quarter against the Colts so Watson technically gets that win — he’s thrown only one touchdown pass against five interceptions en route to a 51.8 rating.