Bodycam video released this week shows Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during a traffic stop that led to a citation from the Ohio State Highway Patrol on August 26.
A trooper pulled Watson over during morning rush hour after clocking the 2022 Ram pickup truck he was driving at 86 mph in a 60 mph zone. In the footage, the exchange stays calm and brief. After Watson was asked to move the truck farther onto the shoulder, the officer took his identification documents and said, “I will be issuing a citation for the speed.”
Watson cooperated throughout the stop and accepted the ticket without bringing up his profile as a well-known quarterback. The trooper wrapped up the encounter by saying, “Drive safely” and “Take care, sir.”
Watson later entered a plea of not guilty to the citation in Cleveland Municipal Court. That came just days before the Browns’ highly anticipated regular-season opener, and the court has set a bench trial for September 23. That date falls right before Cleveland’s upcoming home game.
The off-field development came as Watson also dealt with a rough start on the field in the Browns’ 2026 season opener, a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, with one touchdown, one interception and five sacks. His only major highlight came with less than two minutes left, when he connected with Denzel Boston on a 46-yard touchdown.
Afterward, Watson said he was feeling a lot of anxiety and heavy emotions. He also pointed to the challenge of returning after missing two years because of Achilles surgeries, saying, “you just don’t know how your body’s really going to hold up.”
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Messick also drew attention for the way he worked efficiently and held up deep into the outing, traits that can matter just as much in September as pure stuff. The conversation on MLB Network went a step further, with both analysts floating the idea that his early impact could eventually put him in the mix for a Cy Young finish, a remarkable thought for a pitcher who arrived with far less fanfare than the usual postseason difference-maker. For Cleveland, the bigger takeaway is obvious: a young arm nobody expected is suddenly giving the club a weapon it can trust. [Read more 🡒]