Browns’ Watson on defensive

Unable to play quarterback right now for the Browns, Deshaun Watson tried some defense on Thursday.

Watson, who will miss his fourth game — and third start — Sunday at Seattle with a right shoulder injury that has lingered longer than expected, dismissed the idea that he’s not doing all he can to get back on the field.

Watson’s aware his motivation is being questioned, and he’s not happy about it.

“Why wouldn’t I want to play? I just worked my [butt] off for two years to get back to playing,” said Watson, who sat out 2021 after demanding a trade from Houston and was suspended 11 games by the NFL last year. “So why wouldn’t I want to play? This is what I’ve been doing since I was 6 years old.

Watson has “residual” swelling in his shoulder and can’t throw with velocity, so the Browns (4-2) will start P.J. Walker against the Seahawks. Walker hasn’t played well, but Cleveland has won two straight with him as its primary QB.

The Browns are keeping Watson out of practice this week to focus on rehabbing his shoulder, which he said he hurt against Tennessee Sept. 24.

Garoppolo practices

Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo returned to the practice field after missing the past six quarters because of a back injury. Coach Josh McDaniels said he was “hopeful” Garoppolo would play at Detroit.

Kicker Daniel Carlson (groin) didn’t practice. The Raiders signed James McCourt to the practice squad this week.

“We’ll just see how Daniel is feeling as we go through the week and make the right decision at the end of the week here based on how that’s going, whether we need to do something else in terms of [elevating McCourt],” McDaniels said.

Cornerback Nate Hobbs, who missed the previous four games because of an ankle injury, was a limited participant in practice.

Heyward at practice

Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward returned to practice for the first time since tearing a groin muscle in a season-opening loss to San Francisco.

Doctors cleared Heyward,

34, following the latest in a series of MRIs. He went through the majority of the two-hour workout with his teammates, though the 13-year veteran cautioned it's too soon to say when he'll be ready to return to the lineup.