Todd Monken has made his call, and Browns fans are furious about it.
After seven months of a quarterback battle that has hung over Cleveland, the Browns are sticking with Deshaun Watson to open the regular season, according to FOX Sports insider Jordan Schultz. That means Watson will start Sept. 13 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Year 2 quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be the backup.
The decision hands Watson his 20th game of what the source article calls the franchise’s darkest era, and it comes despite a fan base that had made clear it wanted no part of another season with him. The reaction in the comments to Schultz’s Monday morning post reflected that frustration immediately.
Watson’s place atop the depth chart looks even more jarring because of what happened just two days earlier against the Buffalo Bills. The discussion after that game centered on whether Cleveland would move on from him entirely, especially after a rough performance and an awkward postgame session with reporters. Instead, Monken chose to keep him in the job.
Against Buffalo, Watson was ineffective, playing more than a quarter with a QB rating of 14.6. Afterward, he said he was impacted by the home crowd booing him in his return to Huntington Bank Field. He also pointed out that the last time he heard cheers in a Browns home game was when he tore his Achilles in October of 2024.
One exchange from that press conference stood out. Asked whether he could “defeat the negativity,” Watson answered, “I don’t know.”
“It’s a mental battle every day," he said. "I feel like I get more love on road games than I do at home games.
So, if it is my spot and he does make me the starter, maybe it’s 17 away games, then. I don’t know.”
Watson’s comments only sharpened the frustration around him. He did not take responsibility for his performance, and at one point said, “I don’t regret anything in life.” The source article notes that line in the context of the more than two dozen women who have accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions.
That “17 away games” remark is the one that figures to stick with Browns fans the most. It made Watson sound less like a quarterback embracing the opportunity in Cleveland and more like someone wishing he were somewhere else. And that is part of why Monken’s decision to keep him in the role has landed so hard.
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Browns Fans Are Being Pushed Toward A Breaking Point Over Watson
The reaction around Deshaun Watson has kept spilling over since his controversial press conference and the Browns decision to hand him the starting job over Shedeur Sanders. Even from outside Berea, the frustration is hard to miss, and ESPNs Dan Orlovsky went as far as suggesting Browns fans should think twice about showing up for home games as a form of pushback. Watson later issued a public apology for his comments, but it has done little to calm the broader unease hanging over the team.
For Cleveland, the timing only adds to the tension because its first two games are on the road, leaving the home crowd waiting until Week 3 to make its feelings known in person. By then, the Browns will already have spent another stretch answering questions about quarterback choice, accountability and how much patience is left in a fan base that has already been asked to absorb plenty. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Young Talent Could Pay The Price For This QB Decision
The Browns are moving forward with Deshaun Watson as their starter for the upcoming season, a choice that immediately puts the offense under a brighter spotlight. Cleveland has made enough changes around him to suggest it wants a cleaner operation, including tweaks to the offensive line and coaching staff, but the broader concern remains whether the unit can finally get more out of a quarterback whose recent efficiency numbers have left plenty of room for doubt.
For young players trying to grow into bigger roles, that matters. Denzel Boston, Quinshon Judkins and Spencer Fano all stand to be shaped by the kind of offense Watson can support, and if the passing game stalls or the pressure issues linger, their chances to thrive could be squeezed before the season really gets rolling. The Browns are betting on continuity and upside, but the margin for error is already thin. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Secondary Suddenly Has A Roster Problem Before Week 1
The Browns secondary has spent much of training camp trying to get settled, but the group keeps running into bad luck at the worst possible time. Rookie cornerback Michael Coats Jr. was carted off the field during a recent practice after suffering a leg injury, adding another concern to a defensive backfield that has already taken hits this summer.
Coats latest setback comes after he had already dealt with an ankle injury in the first preseason game, making this his second leg issue in two weeks. Cleveland has already seen multiple injuries pile up in the secondary during camp, including a season-ending injury to Damarri Mathis, leaving the Browns with a roster puzzle to sort out with Week 1 approaching. [Read more 🡒]