Todd Monken doesn’t have to play quarterback roulette for the moment, and after Sunday’s win in Tampa Bay, he made it clear he’s not in a hurry to change course.
Deshaun Watson turned in his best outing in years, going 24 of 30 for 238 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as Cleveland picked up its first regular-season win. The opponent only sharpened the spotlight: it came against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, the former Browns quarterback.
Monken was quick to praise Watson afterward, saying, "I'm happy for Deshaun, the way he's played, and I expected improvement, and I expect continued improvement. There's a lot of football left in him; he just hasn't played in a while."
He also pointed to the areas that had been an issue in Jacksonville a week earlier. Watson looked cleaner with his dropbacks, handled his reads better, and cut his sacks from five to two against Tampa Bay.
That progress led Monken to say something unusual about how he sees the quarterback’s development.
“Learning our system, trying to get him consistent with his drops and his reads is part of the process. He’s like every player.
“I see him as a young player. I know people don’t want to see it that way and I haven’t been here.
But I see him as still a very young player that is going to continue to grow.”
Even with the bounce-back performance, Monken isn’t pretending Watson is suddenly fixed for good. He said Monday he’s tired of being asked about the quarterback situation, and he knows one sharp game doesn’t erase the noise.
The next test is a loud one. Watson is set to start in Cleveland for the first time since the October 2024 game in which he originally tore his Achilles, setting up his first home start in almost two years of inactivity.
If the preseason is any guide, the reception won’t be warm. Watson’s last appearance in front of the home crowd came in the third quarter of Week 2 of the preseason against Buffalo, when he later called the boos “personal” and said it has nothing to do about the performance,” even though Sunday’s win in Tampa Bay was only his 10th with Cleveland after four-plus seasons.
The victory may have bought him a little more time, especially with reports swirling before the game that the Browns could have been preparing a quarterback change for Week 3 if the offense didn’t show real improvement.
Still, one good Sunday isn’t enough to change the mood around him. Browns fans are going to need a lot more than one September performance before they’re ready to hand Watson another chance at redemption.
In Other News...
Todd Monken Sends Clear Message After Browns Silence Early Doubts
After the Browns steadied things with a Week 2 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Todd Monken had little interest in letting one rough opening act define the conversation around his team. The Cleveland coach went back to the criticism that followed the Week 1 loss, and he framed it around a remark from former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, using it as a springboard to address the early doubts head-on.
Monken did not dispute that the Browns were poor in the opener, but he pushed back on the idea that it should become the team's identity. His message was simple enough: the only real way to change the public view is to play better, and the Browns have already shown they are trying to do exactly that. Tomlin later answered with a little humor of his own, adding another layer to a storyline that has quickly moved beyond one bad Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have Found Something Big In Their Rookie O-Line
The Browns left Tampa with a 23-19 win, and one of the most encouraging developments came up front, where rookie tackles Spencer Fano and Austin Barber helped steady an offensive line that was under pressure in a tight game. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, neither rookie allowed a pressure, a strong early sign for a unit that has leaned on youth and had to adjust quickly. Fano, the Browns 2026 first-round pick, has already flashed the kind of upside that made him a premium selection, while Barber has stepped into a starting role because of an injury and handled the assignment well.
Todd Monken has been quick to praise both players for the way they have contributed through the first two games, and it is easy to see why the Browns are paying attention. For a team trying to build stability at the line of scrimmage, getting reliable play from two rookies this early matters, especially when one arrived with first-round expectations and the other had to seize an opportunity the hard way. If this level of play holds, Cleveland may have uncovered a lot more than just a promising spot start. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookie Is Forcing A Bigger Question About Clevelands Passing Game
Denzel Boston has quickly given the Browns something they have been searching for at receiver: a young target who can win with size, strength and a steady physical edge. In his first two games, he has already topped 50 receiving yards and found the end zone once, production that fits the kind of role Todd Monken once helped carve out for Mike Evans in Tampa Bay.
The comparison matters because Cleveland still has bigger questions at quarterback and in the broader passing game, but Boston is making it harder to treat the receiver room as a secondary issue. If he keeps showing he can be a consistent, high-end pass catcher early in his career, the Browns may have to think more seriously about how much more is possible through the air, regardless of who is delivering the ball. [Read more 🡒]