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Browns' QB Situation Heats Up as Watson Finds His Rhythm
Confirmed
In Short: Instead, Watson emerged as the starter following a monthslong competition. The Browns plan to reassess their quarterback situation after two road games, according to reports.
Team sources indicated that Watson's performance through three games hasn't convinced the Browns to consider him the long-term answer, but the surprising start has shifted the conversation inside the building to whether the 31-year-old passer and the Browns can build short-term momentum.
Head coach Todd Monken explained that Watson's full body of work, experience, and athleticism gave Cleveland's offense the best chance to succeed. However, with two road games to begin the season before the home opener, Watson's first two starts since tearing his Achilles in October 2024 almost felt like an audition to keep the starting job.
Watson jogged toward the tunnel leading to the Cleveland Browns' locker room at Huntington Bank Field surrounded by cheers last Sunday, a stark contrast to the loud boos he received the last time he played in front of the hometown fans. With Berry's arm around Watson's shoulder, they turned, ready to celebrate with the team.
The win marked Watson's second fourth-quarter comeback in as many weeks, which seemed implausible after a late August preseason game, when Watson struggled in the second half, was loudly booed, and later lashed out at fans in the postgame news conference.
Through four seasons, 19 mostly underwhelming performances were sandwiched between an 11-game suspension after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions, and multiple significant injuries since Cleveland traded three first-round picks to the Houston Texans for Watson.
Entering the 2026 season, the consensus view among Cleveland spectators was that the Browns might finally part ways with Watson at the end of the regular season, taking an exorbitant $86 million dead cap hit while possibly turning to the 2027 NFL draft to solve the franchise's perpetual quarterback conundrum.
Instead, Watson emerged as the starter following a monthslong competition. The Browns plan to reassess their quarterback situation after two road games, according to reports.
NFL analysts are reacting as the Browns prepare to reassess Deshaun Watson, potentially opening the door for Shedeur Sanders to start. If Watson struggles, Sanders could enter the picture for Cleveland’s Week 3 home game against Carolina.
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation has now become one of the NFL’s biggest early-season topics of debate. Watson started the season after winning the job during training camp, but his performance in the 34-10 loss to Jacksonville changed the tone around the position.
What this adds
The Browns' decision to reassess Watson's performance after two road games indicates the team's ongoing uncertainty about his long-term viability.
What's confirmed
- Team sources indicated that Watson's performance through three games hasn't convinced the Browns to consider him the long-term answer, but the surprising start has shifted the conversation inside the building to whether the 31-year-old passer and the Browns can build short-term momentum.
- Head coach Todd Monken explained that Watson's full body of work, experience, and athleticism gave Cleveland's offense the best chance to succeed. However, with two road games to begin the season before the home opener, Watson's first two starts since tearing his Achilles in October 2024 almost felt like an audition to keep the starting job.
- Watson jogged toward the tunnel leading to the Cleveland Browns' locker room at Huntington Bank Field surrounded by cheers last Sunday, a stark contrast to the loud boos he received the last time he played in front of the hometown fans. With Berry's arm around Watson's shoulder, they turned, ready to celebrate with the team.
- The win marked Watson's second fourth-quarter comeback in as many weeks, which seemed implausible after a late August preseason game, when Watson struggled in the second half, was loudly booed, and later lashed out at fans in the postgame news conference.
- Through four seasons, 19 mostly underwhelming performances were sandwiched between an 11-game suspension after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions, and multiple significant injuries since Cleveland traded three first-round picks to the Houston Texans for Watson.
- Entering the 2026 season, the consensus view among Cleveland spectators was that the Browns might finally part ways with Watson at the end of the regular season, taking an exorbitant $86 million dead cap hit while possibly turning to the 2027 NFL draft to solve the franchise's perpetual quarterback conundrum.
- Instead, Watson emerged as the starter following a monthslong competition. The Browns plan to reassess their quarterback situation after two road games, according to reports.
- NFL analysts are reacting as the Browns prepare to reassess Deshaun Watson, potentially opening the door for Shedeur Sanders to start. If Watson struggles, Sanders could enter the picture for Cleveland’s Week 3 home game against Carolina.
- The Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation has now become one of the NFL’s biggest early-season topics of debate. Watson started the season after winning the job during training camp, but his performance in the 34-10 loss to Jacksonville changed the tone around the position.
What's still developing
- His late-game performances and the Browns' 2-1 start have added another wrinkle to the NFL's most confounding quarterback dynamic: Cleveland enters its "Thursday Night Football" home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers ( 8:15 p.m.
- "[Watson] is playing pretty well. At least give him enough of a sample size to see what he can do," an NFC executive told ESPN.
- Such a conclusion would render playing Watson pointless.
- Today is Deshaun Watson’s final career start isn’t it https://t.co/IBWJMztIdD Another reaction focused on the Browns’ decision-making process.
- He wrote, “- Let Watson stink it up for two weeks – Browns couldn’t put him on the field in home opener. – He’s played his last down as a Brown. I’ve said all of this on the Fantasy Points Podcast since Watson was named the starter. Arch Manning watch is on. So obvious to so many.” – Let Watson stink it up for two weeks – Browns couldn’t put him on the field in home opener. – He’s played his last down as a Brown I’ve said all of this on the Fantasy Points Podcast since Watson was named the starter.
- After Watson’s rough opener, Browns to evaluate QB situation before Week 3 | ESPN La Crosse 105.5 You are using an outdated browser.