Browns Rally for Chaotic 39-38 Win vs. Colts After Deshaun Watson Left Then Tried to Come Back In

The Cleveland Browns rallied around backup quarterback P.J. Walker for the second week in a row to stun an opponent.

After quarterback Deshaun Watson left Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts with an apparent injury, Walker came in and did just enough for Cleveland to secure a 39-38 victory amid a chaotic fourth quarter.

Watson was knocked to the ground by Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo in the first quarter. He was questionable coming into the game after missing the previous two games with a shoulder injury. Yet, he was cleared to play this week despite not practicing.

Watson didn't return, and was kept out for an unspecified reason. After the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that he kept Watson out for safety sake.

"I just did not want to put him back out there," Stefanski said. "I wanted to protect our franchise quarterback."

Stefanski added that he expects Watson to play next week against the Seahawks.

But against Indianapolis, Watson was pnce again replaced Walker, who started the last two games for Cleveland and led the team's 19-17 win over the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.

Watson said he wanted to go back in the game after the initial issue.

"I want to go out there and try to help the team as much as possible. Go out there and play and perform and compete," Watson told reporters. "The decision was best for the team. They felt that was the best. PJ did a great job of finishing the game."

On the final drive of the game, with the Browns trailing 38-33, Walker was sacked and lost a fumble, but had it nullified by a penalty. He then had a pass interference call in the end zone set up his offense at the one-yard line.

Then the Browns didn't score on three plays. But they scored on the fourth one, when veteran running back Kareem Hunt ran up the middle for the one-yard touchdown the Browns needed to win the game.