Deshaun Watson’s start to the 2026 season has come with better play, a 3-1 Browns opening, and now a fine for one of the league’s less subtle reminders about the rules.
The NFL hit Watson with a $14,926 penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after cameras showed him and teammate Quinshon Judkins pretending to smoke during last Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The league described it as an illegal celebration and a vulgar act. Judkins was also fined, taking a $14,397 hit for his part in the exchange.
The moment came right after a touchdown, and Prime Video cameras caught the quick celebration before the league handed down the punishment ahead of Cleveland’s Week 5 matchup with the New York Jets. Neither player has said whether they will appeal.
On the field, Watson has given the Browns plenty more to feel good about. He arrived in the 2026 campaign under pressure to show he could still be a difference-maker, and through four games he has completed 69.6% of his passes for 855 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. His play has helped Cleveland move to 3-1, and it has also reopened a bigger question about what comes next.
According to Cleveland.com reporter Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns could consider re-signing Watson if he keeps performing at this level. That gives him something real to play for beyond just the standings.
For now, though, the fine is the headline off the field, and Sunday’s game against the Jets is the next chance for Watson to keep his momentum rolling and help Cleveland protect its strong start.
In Other News...
Michigan Teammate Fires Back As Andrew Sprague Rumors Keep Growing
Andrew Spragues absence has become one of the quieter but more persistent storylines around Michigan football since the Oklahoma game, with the offensive tackle sidelined by an unspecified health issue. As the questions have lingered, teammate Jake Guarnera stepped forward publicly to push back on the social media speculation, making clear that Sprague remains with the team and is still contributing even while he has not been on the field.
The comments add some needed clarity, especially after coach Kyle Whittingham said Spragues situation is health-related and that doctors are working on it. For Michigan, the key issue now is less about the online noise and more about patience, since Sprague is not expected back immediately and the Wolverines will have to keep navigating his absence while the recovery process plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Has A Quiet Weapon While The Offense Searches For Answers
While Michigans offense keeps looking for a steadier rhythm, the Wolverines have leaned on a part of the game that has hardly made any noise at all. Through the first five games, Michigan has held every opponent to 20 points or fewer, and when the team has stumbled in losses to Iowa and Minnesota, the defense still gave itself a chance by keeping those games tight. In the background of that grind, sophomore punter Cam Brown has quietly become a useful weapon by regularly forcing opponents to start deep in their own end.
Browns value has been hard to miss for special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs and for teammates who have watched him turn field position into an advantage. His work ethic has drawn praise as Michigan searches for answers on offense, and his consistency has given the Wolverines another way to control games while the bigger issues get sorted out. It is the kind of under-the-radar production that does not usually headline a Saturday, but it has mattered plenty to a team still trying to find its best version. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Hits A Dangerous Pressure Point Against Penn State
Michigan and Penn State are heading into their Week 7 meeting in the 2026 college football season with both programs trying to steady themselves in Big Ten play. It has not been the kind of stretch either side envisioned under new leadership, with Michigan adjusting to Kyle Whittingham and Penn State working through the early days of Matt Campbells tenure after consecutive conference losses.
For Michigan, the pressure point is hard to miss: the offense still needs to find more consistency, even as Bryce Underwood gives the Wolverines a possible running threat to lean on. Penn State, meanwhile, needs splash plays to change the feel of its own offense, and special teams could end up carrying more weight than usual in a matchup where both teams are searching for any edge that can stop the slide. [Read more 🡒]