Relative to many other people, Todd Monken has been with the Cleveland Browns for about five minutes, so perhaps the head coach doesn’t truly appreciate how divisive his choice of Deshaun Watson as his starting quarterback really is. But based on the way Monken handled the QB competition and its conclusion, he doesn’t care how it’s been perceived.
Just because the coach, and maybe the rest of the team, is more than fine with Watson as QB1, that doesn’t mean fans and analysts who have been around the Browns a lot longer are willing to accept it. Even those who aren’t diehard supporters of Shedeur Sanders can clearly see the issues with the current situation.
With that in mind, insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic is ripping the Browns for their Watson decision, calling it a “slap in the face” to their fans.
“For them to put Deshaun Watson back on the field, if it feels like a slap in the face to you as a fan, it should, because that’s what it is,” Jackson said.
“For them to put Deshaun Watson back on the field — if it feels like a slap in the face to you as a fan, it should, because that’s what it is.” 😳@AkronJackson DIDN’T HOLD BACK, saying the #Browns’ decision to play Watson overshadows the bright spots on this team. 👀🏈
▶️… pic.twitter.com/rCd7e5GXdt
— Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show (@ultCLEsports) September 4, 2026
Jackson mentioned that when things turned sour with quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns moved on from him, which ironically led to their acquisition of Watson in a 2022 trade with the Houston Texans. More recently, when they grew tired of Myles Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, they moved on from him, too, trading him to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.
Perhaps the Browns have simply grown used to Watson’s baggage, considering that when they traded for him, he was already dealing with multiple sexual assault allegations. But after his string of season-ending injuries and his poor play when he was able to take the field, fans still have a great deal of justified distaste for him.
That only grew after Watson’s churlish response to being booed in his return to the field in the first home preseason game. Monken then made the situation worse by naming Watson as the starter very soon after that, then completely dismissing the fans’ reaction to the situation.
Watson may be able to win some fans over by playing well in the first two games of the season, but even that may not be enough to generate a more receptive response at the home opener in Week 3.
NEXT: Jared Verse Shares Insightful Lesson Ahead Of Browns Debut
