The Cleveland Browns may have to play their first six games of the 2022 regular season without quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson, whom they acquired from the Houston Texans in a blockbuster trade and signed an epic five-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed contract extension.

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) filed their reply to the NFL's appeal of Watson's suspension on Friday. The suspension was recommended by Judge Sue L. Robinson on Monday and the union said it would stand by her ruling even before Robinson made her decision.

Watson was previously accused by 24 women of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. Though he has settled 23 lawsuits, he will still be banned for six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

"I think with our plan … we'll just kind of await clarity on the situation but just continue to move ahead with what we are doing," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Friday.

Before Watson's suspension is lifted (or finished), the Browns will need to prepare for his absence and are likely use Jacoby Brissett as the starting QB. As the 91st selection in 2016, Brissett has started 37 of his 60 games played for three teams in six seasons. He passed for 727-1208 to achieve 7,742 yards and 36 touchdowns with 17 interceptions.

Brissett started in five games for the Miami Dolphins last season and the team was 2-3, beating the Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

The Browns were only 8-9 last season, ranked third in the American Football Conference (AFC) North and missed the playoffs. The team only reached the postseason once in the past 19 seasons. They replaced Baker Mayfield with Watson and traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper with the Dallas Cowboys during the offseason, hoping to make a difference this season.

However, the likely absence of Watson in the first six games may upset their plan. The Browns' first four opponents will be the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons respectively. They are either tanking teams or at the early stage of rebuild, which means the Browns should beat all of them for a good start of the season. But can they count on Brissett to do that?

The schedule will soon grow tougher for the Browns from Week 5 as they will play against the Los Angeles Chargers that week and New England Patriots in Week 6. If Watson returns in Week 7, he will lead the Browns to meet the Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers between Week 7 and Week 12 (the Browns will have a bye for Week 9).

Both the Ravens and Bills are top offensive teams of the league; the Bengals reached the Super Bowl last season; the Dolphins made a series of major trades during the offseason for franchise-improving; the Buccaneers are led by eight-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.

It has been over a year since Watson appeared in an NFL game and he may have to begin with a high degree of difficulty when he comes back. If things go sideways in more than three of those games, it may cost the Browns’ efforts for the whole season and offseason.