Deshaun Watson recently offered his own perspective on how he expects Browns fans to receive him once he takes the field again, but not everyone in Cleveland media believes his outlook matches the reality awaiting him. Anthony Lima, appearing alongside Ken Carman on The Ken Carman Show, pushed back on Watson’s comments, arguing that daily life around the city has shielded him from the kind of raw, unfiltered reaction he could genuinely experience once Saturday’s preseason home opener against Buffalo gets underway.
Lima laid out why he believes Watson’s everyday experience in Cleveland has not prepared him for what could unfold inside the stadium.
“When he’s around town and going to restaurants and stuff, he’s not getting booed. He’s getting taken care of. He’s not experiencing the Cleveland that he’s gonna be experiencing when he goes out there. I’m sure, in his life, he’s not experiencing the same Cleveland that he will be coming up on Saturday. It might be culture shock to him. In his life, I think it could be jarring to him. He’s not getting booed every day in his world. It’s gonna be different when he takes the field, and these people are gonna be like, ‘You’ve ruined our franchise for four years. The move to bring you in has ruined the franchise.'”
"I don't believe him. Yes, you do."
"He's not experiencing the Cleveland that he's gonna be experiencing when he goes out there…"
"He's about to get a taste of real Cleveland coming up here on Saturday."
🚨 @KenCarman and @SportsBoyTony react to Deshaun Watson's comments… https://t.co/dbqi0u8Ma1 pic.twitter.com/9U578DQpOa
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 20, 2026
Tension has followed Watson’s tenure in Cleveland since his arrival, with his massive contract and limited on-field availability due to multiple Achilles surgeries and a shoulder procedure fueling ongoing frustration among a fan base still searching for the payoff on that significant investment. Watson’s preseason debut against Chicago offered genuinely encouraging signs, an efficient 11-of-15 performance, but Wednesday’s practice brought a reminder that inconsistency remains part of his profile, with two interceptions marking his roughest outing of the entire camp heading into this crucial stretch.
The stakes surrounding Saturday’s game have only grown following recent national reporting suggesting Cleveland could name its starting quarterback shortly after this contest concludes. If Watson does encounter a harsh reaction, how he responds could become just as significant a storyline as anything he accomplishes statistically on the field, particularly with Todd Monken reportedly targeting a decision as soon as Monday.
With Shedeur Sanders continuing to build positive momentum of his own throughout this same stretch of practices, Saturday’s atmosphere inside the stadium could end up playing a real role in how this closely watched competition’s final chapter unfolds, regardless of what either quarterback ultimately produces statistically once the game begins.
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