Deshaun Watson is officially the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns’ season opener against the Jaguars. Yeah, you heard that right, even after a truly bizarre preseason that saw him completely torch his own fanbase just days ago. He beat out Shedeur Sanders for the gig, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. This isn’t just a regular QB battle win either. This will be Watson’s first game since way back on October 10, 2024, after tearing his Achilles, then re-tearing it in early January 2025, which cost him the entire 2025 season. Talk about a comeback with extra baggage.
The Wild Road Back for Watson
Just two days before this starting announcement, Watson was taking shots at Browns fans, calling their boos “disrespectful” and “personal” after his poor performance in preseason Week 2 against the Bills. I mean, he was 5 of 12 passing for a measly 35 yards and threw an interception, playing against backups while the crowd made their feelings known. “I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson reportedly said. “It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing.” You gotta wonder what he meant by “personal,” right? Browns coach Todd Monken, though, insisted Sunday that Watson’s comments wouldn’t factor into his decision, and clearly, they didn’t. He told reporters Monday, “Deshaun is going to start against Jacksonville.” Wow.
Cleveland’s Risky Bet on a “Disappointment”
Monken’s rationale for starting Watson? He looked at the “full body of work over the course of offseason to training camp to the games, the joint practice,” and ultimately felt Watson “gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points.” He praised Sanders too, saying Shedeur “has done a great job, come a long ways and we are excited about his future,” but Watson was apparently the “slight leader” for most of the quarterback battle anyway.
Let’s not forget the sheer cost Cleveland paid for Watson: they traded 2022, 2023, and 2024 first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to the Texans for him and a sixth-rounder. And then they handed him an unprecedented, fully guaranteed contract. Watson, who turns 31 the day after the opener, has been a monumental disappointment in Cleveland, with his acquisition even being called one of the “worst in major professional sports history.” What a legacy to try and escape.
So, the stage is set for the Browns’ opener at the Jaguars. This isn’t just about a win or loss; it’s about whether Watson can finally deliver on that colossal investment, silence the critics, and mend fences with a fanbase he just called out. It’s high stakes for his final year under contract.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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