Event: Watson

Professional Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Roger Craig, who revealed a dementia diagnosis, is introduced prior to the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 6. | Imagn Images / via Reuters Almost every former National Football League player who died between 2016 and 2021 and allowed their brains to be evaluated was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, stark evidence of the toll repeated head impacts can take on athletes.Researchers obtained personal information and causes of death for 878 players who died during the five-year period, when brain donations were highest. Of the 235 athletes whose brains were subject to the postmortem neurological examination, 215 had confirmed CTE, according to findings published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal.CTE, a progressive brain disease tied to repeated head trauma that’s common in contact sports like football and boxing, can only be definitively diagnosed by examining the brain after death. When the researchers included all the football players who died in their analysis, they determined a “conservative minimum” of nearly 25% had CTE. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson puts away his helmet during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio, on July 29. | Imagn Images / via Reuters New Browns head coach Todd Monken opted to stay the course in Cleveland and will start Deshaun Watson at quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season.“Took in the full body of work over the course of offseason to training camp to the games and the joint practice, and ultimately, felt like to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points,” Monken said Monday.“And that’s really what it’s about. I felt that way going into the last game, but wasn’t sure. And after we talked as a staff and after we re-looked at everything, we’re going to let it rip.” In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW