Deshaun Watson’s 31st birthday arrived one day after a rough start to the season, but his wife, Jilly Anais, made sure the moment still felt like a celebration.
Anais marked the occasion with an Instagram tribute built around photos of the couple and a long message aimed at lifting up the Browns quarterback after Cleveland’s 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. Watson finished that game 16 of 22 for 205 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, and his performance immediately drew scrutiny from fans questioning the team’s choice to make him the starter over Shedeur Sanders.
“Happy 31st birthday to my husband! Eight birthdays with you.
Eight years of watching you grow, evolve, overcome & become. I love you so deep baby!
My prayer for 31 is that God pours back into you every ounce of love, goodness, grace & light you’ve poured into this imperfect world.
“May He restore what was lost, exceed every dream, and let every prayer, sacrifice & season of waiting finally make sense. May this next one be so beautiful we look back and say, ‘Now we understand why God made us wait.’”
Anais had been at Sunday’s game with her family, and she later shared her favorite VIP suite moments in a Tuesday Instagram post. The collection included shots of her in a cream satin shirt with a long tie knotted at the waist, black leather mini shorts, brown Gucci heels and a football-shade handbag, along with photos of Watson, her parents and friends. A day before she posted about the game, she was also spotted on a private jet.
Even with the criticism swirling, Browns coach Todd Monken confirmed on Monday that Watson will start in Week 2. That decision didn’t sit well with Browns insider Tony Rizzo, who took aim at the move on “The Tony Rizzo Show” Tuesday.
"The coach said that he saw Watson do some good things and lots to build off of with Deshaun," Rizzo said. "Why are they in denial?
Why is he in denial? What's going on?
What's going on to Todd Monken?"
Chris Oldach, Rizzo’s co-host, also pushed back on Monken’s explanation.
"Riz, I have so many problems with what I just heard there: 'Well, he's only had a couple of weeks with all the reps.' Whose fault is that, Todd?
That's yours. You ran the quarterback competition.
"You wanted to split reps all the way up until the end of the preseason. That's your fault.
‘There were some good things to ... It was garbage time.'
Yeah, 'cause you got your a** kicked for three and a half quarters.”
After the loss, former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin also criticized Watson’s play. Monken later responded by calling him out for those comments.
In Other News...
Browns Offense Had One Bright Spot Fans Should Notice After Week 1
Even in a Week 1 opener that left plenty to unpack on offense, the Browns did have one area worth filing away: the workload distribution was clear, and it showed which pieces this staff is leaning on early. Deshaun Watson had a few positive plays against Jacksonville, but overall production was muted, with the running backs and receivers rotating through uneven roles while the offensive line stayed on the field for nearly every snap.
The tight end usage was especially limited, which makes the shape of this offense worth watching as the season settles in. For Cleveland, the bigger question now is whether the snap counts from Sunday were just the byproduct of a flat opener or the first hint of how this unit wants to function when the Browns go back to work. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookies Gave Fans One Reason To Watch After Week 1 Loss
The Browns opened the season on the road against the Jaguars with a rookie-heavy cast getting thrown into meaningful snaps right away, and there were enough encouraging moments to make the loss sting a little less. Left tackle Spencer Fano drew difficult assignments and held up reasonably well, while wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston gave the offense some life with catches and a touchdown.
Elsewhere, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and right guard Austin Barber added to a debut that offered more than just surviving the moment. Barber in particular stood out on the offensive side, finishing with the top grade among Browns players in the game, a small but meaningful sign that some of the younger pieces already look ready to matter in Cleveland's early-season mix. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Get A Brutal Week 1 Reality Check From ESPN
The first NFL Sunday of 2026 brought an ugly early verdict for a few teams, and Cleveland found itself near the bottom of ESPNs Football Power Index right alongside Miami, Tennessee, Las Vegas and the New York Jets. The rankings are a mix of recent results and roster evaluation, and they painted an unflattering picture of the Browns after opening week, with only Miami sitting lower.
For Cleveland, the rating is less about one game than the larger question of where the roster stands after the offseason and how quickly it can climb out of the leagues early basement. The 49ers rise to the top after beating Los Angeles only sharpened the contrast, leaving the Browns with an immediate reminder that the margin for error this season may be thin and the work ahead is already serious. [Read more 🡒]