Browns to be without Watson again

BEREA — The Cleveland Browns didn’t wait for Deshaun Watson to tell them he couldn’t play.

Two weeks after Watson surprised them before kickoff by saying he couldn’t play with a shoulder injury, the Browns officially ruled the quarterback out Friday and named P.J. Walker, currently on the practice squad, their starter Sunday against unbeaten San Francisco.

Watson, who unexpectedly sat out an Oct. 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens despite being medically cleared by the Browns, didn’t practice this week with a bruise suffered on a running play against Tennessee three weeks ago.

Watson had been expected to return this week following the team’s bye, but the 28-year-old didn’t practice at all and instead stayed inside the team’s facility for rehab.

Approached at his locker, Watson told The Associated Press the injury has improved and that he’s been “doing all medical procedures” to get back. Watson also said he didn’t know if he’ll be back next week when the Browns (2-2) play at Indianapolis.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski declined to provide any specifics on what Watson did this week behind the scenes.

He did confirm that Watson did some throwing on his own, but Stefanski, who has reiterated that the QB’s shoulder does not have a tear and is structurally sound, wouldn’t characterize any level of improvement.

“It’s part of a rehab, so he’s making progress,” Stefanski said. “He’s getting better. He’s very disappointed. He wants to play. He wants to be able to compete with his teammates, so he’s just got to focus on getting better every day.”

Watson’s injury didn’t appear to be serious a few weeks ago. Although he was limited in practice during the week leading into the Baltimore game, Watson had insisted he would play before telling the team he couldn’t following an on-field workout three hours before kickoff.

The Browns started rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who had a rocky NFL debut, throwing three interceptions in a 28-3 loss.

Stefanski has been somewhat guarded with comments about Watson, who was hurt in the second half of the Sept. 24 win over the Titans. The injury came in Watson’s best performance in his nine starts since signing a controversial $230 million contract with Cleveland last season.

Watson served an 11-game NFL suspension for allegations of sexual assault and harassment before debuting for the Browns.

Stefanski said Watson has to be able to “function” and has no doubt the former Pro Bowler with Houston would play if he felt he could help the Browns.

“I know what he’s made of,” Stefanski said. “I know how badly he wants to be out there. I know how badly he wants to compete. I’ve seen him play through injuries. He’s a very tough individual, so he’s pushing through it. He’s going to be out there as soon as he’s ready.”

Until then, Walker, who was signed in August, will start.

The 28-year-old was moved ahead of Thompson-Robinson on the depth chart this week, and his experience should give the Browns a little more confidence going against the 49ers (5-0), who have won 15 consecutive regular-season games.

Walker went 4-3 in seven starts over the past three seasons for the Carolina Panthers. In 15 career games, he’s completed 131 of 228 passes (57.5%) with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Walker said he’s undaunted and relishes being a heavy underdog.

“I’ve been there before,” Walker, who put himself on the radar of NFL teams by starring in the XFL. “We’ve been there before. It’s going to be what it’s going to be. So for me, it’s nothing that we can control. That’s what the outside noise is. So for us, we’re gonna go out there and prove them wrong on Sunday.”

Walker has already pulled off one surprise win, leading the Panthers to a 21-3 win last season over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, its nothing he’s hanging his helmet on.

“For me, it ain’t about that,” he said. “It’s going out there. It’s a new day, new game. I can’t go out there thinking about what I did last year, whole different team. So I’m with these guys right now. And that’s all that matters.”

Purdy perfection

Brock Purdy has been labeled a game manager and system quarterback. He has been described as robotic, savvy and consistent. Most famously, he has been called Mr. Irrelevant.

However, there’s one word that perhaps best sums up the startling start to his professional career: Perfect.

In less than two seasons, San Francisco’s 23-year-old QB has risen from being the final pick in the NFL draft (hence Mr. Irrelevant) to being in the conversation as one of the early frontrunners for MVP this season.

Going into Sunday’s game against Cleveland’s top-ranked defense, Purdy leads the league in passer rating (123.1) while completing 72.1% of his passes. He has thrown nine touchdown passes, zero interceptions and allowed fans in the Bay Area to turn the page on Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance.

And in case anyone was still wondering if his start was a flash or fluke, Purdy threw four TD passes last week as the 49ers (5-0) demolished Dallas 42-10 on national TV — the most lopsided outcome in the storied rivalry.

Purdy is 10-0 in 10 career regular-season starts, and he’s unbeaten in the 13 games in which he’s played at least three quarters. No. 13, 13-0. Brock perfect.

As they geared up to face Purdy and his plethora of offensive playmakers, the Browns (2-2) have been impressed with the young QB’s skillset.

“He’s been great for their team,” said cornerback Denzel Ward. “Able to get the ball out quick, put the ball where it needs to be, goes through his progressions. Accurate quarterback, able to make every throw on the field and just leading those guys over there.

“He’s definitely coming up in this league and definitely going to have a challenge ahead of us.”

Niners coach Kyle Shanahan staunchly defended Purdy earlier this season against those critics who argued he was merely a product of San Francisco’s innovative schemes. Purdy has changed some of the narrative by showing he create when a play breaks down.

There isn’t much Purdy does that shocks Shanahan anymore, but he is surprised by his steadiness at such a young age,

“He does it all the time, but just to continue doing it at such a high rate has been pretty unbelievable,” Shanahan said. “Just how good he’s been, how many plays he’s made and how many plays he hasn’t made for the other team. The consistency of that has been what’s been impressive the most.”

Although he hasn’t faced Purdy, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has had great success in matchups against Shanahan, going 7-1.

Schwartz has transformed Cleveland’s defense from problematic to powerful in his first season. The Browns lead the league in fewest yards allowed (196.8) and passing yards (125.0). Cleveland is tied for second in points (15.0) and fourth against the run (71.8).

They played poorly two weeks ago in a 28-3 loss to Baltimore, and the 49ers will be by far the unit’s toughest test.

“We’re going to have to play our game and accentuate our guys,” Schwartz said. “We have some multipurpose players that can do a lot of things. It’s going to be a great matchup. This is NFL football at its finest. This is an outstanding offense, a good defense.”

And at the moment, a perfect QB.

On the edge

Once again, San Francisco’s offensive line has its hands full.

The Niners have faced some of the league’s best outside rushers so far this season with mixed results.

Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt had three sacks and two forced fumbles in the opener. San Francisco had better results slowing down Dallas’ Micah Parsons, holding him to a season-low two pressures, including none in eight pass rushes against All-Pro tackle Trent Williams.

Now the Niners have to deal with Myles Garrett, who has 5 1/2 sacks already this season.

“Our job never stops. You go from Micah Parsons to 95 over in Cleveland,” Williams said, referring to Garrett’s number. “It doesn’t get too much better than that. There’s not any time to rest on our laurels.”

Pass rush reinforcement

San Francisco’s defensive front should get a boost this week with the expected debut of Randy Gregory.

The Niners acquired Gregory late last week from Denver to give them another pass-rushing threat opposite Nick Bosa. Gregory struggled with injuries and production in his two seasons with the Broncos, but should fit better in San Francisco’s aggressive system.

“I think he just needs to get the scheme down, which will take hopefully a couple of days,” Bosa said. “It’s not too complicated, but just getting the nuances of it down. I think he’ll be able to set the edge as good as anybody we have. We obviously have him here because he can rush.”

Notes: Browns All-Pro LG Joel Bitonio (knee) will also sit out Sunday, ending his streak of starting 102 straight regular-season games. Stefanski said Bitonio had his knee scoped during the bye week. … TE David Njoku returned to practice after missing three days. He’s still recovering from burns to his face and hand suffered when he was starting a fire pit at his house. Despite his injuries, Njoku played two days later and caught six passes in a loss to Baltimore on Oct. 1.