Browns’ Deshaun Watson walks back comments about fanbase after winning starting QB job
· Yahoo Sports
Deshaun Watson made some comments about the Cleveland Browns fanbase that resulted in the veteran quarterback needing to walk them back after winning the starting job.
Watson is preparing for the 10th year of his NFL career, his fifth with the Browns. Injuries and off-field controversies have derailed his time in Cleveland, seeing 2026 have him back up to full health after rehabbing his Achilles throughout all of 2025.
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Watson was competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting job throughout training camp and the preseason. The former got a lot of boos during the Browns’ preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22, where he completed five of 12 passes for 36 yards with one interception. This resulted in him calling out the fans.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said after the game. “It’s a little bit [more] personal than that. So I think it’s a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on.”
His response ended up backfiring as he addressed those comments on Monday. Head coach Todd Monken named Watson the starting quarterback over Sanders going into Week 1, meaning a lot of eyes will be on the veteran to have his healthiest campaign in a Browns jersey. He also had to make up with the fanbase, taking accountability for what he said about them.
“My comments wasn’t intending to go at any of the fans around in the city because there’s been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me, and I know the frustration this organization have put a lot of investment in coming to get me back in 2022, and things haven’t been going the right direction that we thought it was; a lot of injuries, a lot of time off, and not putting the best football and my foot forward,” Watson said.
“I understand the frustration. I understand everything that kind of goes into that. Moving forward, I just want to focus on football, making sure that you know I’m putting the best product out there, having the best ability, you know, because I thrive off the energy. I thrive off the energy of the fans.”
“My emotions got the best of me. I’m a human. I take full responsibility of that, and you know, just moving forward, I want to make sure that I put the best part up for the team, for the organization, and for the city, so we can put a lot of wins and make sure that I celebrate and put Cleveland on the map.”
What Lies Ahead for Deshaun Watson and Browns this Season
Aug 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Deshaun Watson has a lot of doubters to prove wrong going into the 2026 campaign. After everything he’s been through since the start of the decade, this season might stand out as his last chance to return to star form.
In the limited action Watson had on the field for Cleveland, he went 9-10 in his 19 starts from 2022 to 2024. Cleveland managed to make the playoffs in 2023 without Watson, but will hope for him to have a healthy season and strong performances on a game-by-game basis.
The Browns will attempt to improve on their 5-12 record from 2025. They also intend to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, and end their 33-season division title drought, last winning one in 1989.
Cleveland will have the first two games of its 2026 campaign start on the road. They take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET.
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