Browns plan to play Deshaun Watson in preseason, but he won’t play the first six weeks of regular season - NBC Sports

The NFL Players Association did not appeal the six-game suspension imposed on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Thus, unless the appeal filed by the NFL results in no suspension at all (highly unlikely), Watson will miss the first six weeks of the regular season.

If a longer suspension is imposed on him via appeal, and if a lawsuit challenging the league’s process is filed, the earliest he’d return is Week Seven — if the lawsuit produces the desired results.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Browns plan to use Watson during the preseason.

The appeal could potentially result in an immediate suspension that lasts at least one year.