Deshaun Watson clearly has the inside track to being the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback. He showed some rust in his first preseason start against the Chicago Bears, but he also showed some positive signs and led the team on its only touchdown drive of the day.
Watson potentially being the starter again is still a hard reality to wrap your head around, but the idea that ownership is forcing Todd Monken’s hand in this situation and pressuring him to start Watson has been shut down. He simply looks like the best quarterback at the moment, and even though some fans are never going to get on board with the decision, it’s looking like he is going to be the guy in Week 1.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot shared a clip from Watson’s recent media session and when asked if he is prepared for what could be an unfavorable reaction from the fans when he takes the field on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills, he didn’t sound too concerned.
“I don’t care,” said Watson.
Is #Browns Deshaun Watson prepared for whatever fan reax he gets Saturday at Huntington Bank Field vs. the #Bills: pic.twitter.com/7SQwdPfeGg
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 19, 2026
Fans aren’t being unreasonable in wondering how owner Jimmy Haslam’s tune completely shifted this offseason when it comes to the Watson trade. He previously called the deal a swing and a miss, but this offseason, he has been openly supportive of Watson getting another shot to prove himself. It’s fair to question if this decision is coming from over Monken’s head, especially since Watson has been throwing picks left and right in camp.
At the end of the day, Shedeur Sanders isn’t doing enough to wrestle the job away from him, so while there are sure to be a lot of upset fans on Saturday, there isn’t a better option at the moment. Sanders will more than likely see the field at some point since Watson has made just 19 starts since 2020 and has a lot to prove in terms of his durability, but after that interception he threw in the first preseason game, it’s hard to see a path for him starting soon.
Sanders will be starting Saturday’s preseason game, but unless he goes nuts and posts a near-perfect performance, this job is Watson’s to lose. A decision is likely just days away, and him not caring about the fan reaction is probably the best mindset for him to have. Many fans will never get on board with this, and they are well within their right to feel that way.
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