The Cleveland Browns will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road this weekend, but then they will head home to square off against the Carolina Panthers for Week 3. Their first home game of the year will be a big moment for this team, but it could be an uncomfortable one.
There is a chance that Deshaun Watson is still the starting quarterback for the Browns for Week 3. If that happens, he might receive a very cold reception from the fans. Speaking on ESPN Cleveland, Tony Rizzo said that Todd Monken needs to make the tough choice and not go with Watson for the Browns’ first home game.
He believes that it will be an insult to fans and would send a very bad message.
“I want Todd Monken and the Browns to understand that you can’t come home, you can’t start him a week from Sunday,” Rizzo said.
"I want Todd Monken and the Browns to understand that you can't come home, you can't start him a week from Sunday," – Rizz on Deshaun Watson. pic.twitter.com/nwViqT9zfS
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) September 17, 2026
Watson already experienced the cold shoulder from fans during the preseason, and it’s very likely that he would hear a chorus of boos from people again. There is a large contingent of people who feel completely done with Watson, ready to move on from him, his controversies, large contract, injuries, and poor performances.
Monken has always said that he was going to choose the starting quarterback who would produce the most wins for the Browns. However, Watson’s Week 1 was a disaster. If Watson were returning home with an impressive start to the year, it would be one thing. But if the team isn’t doing well, the fans will respond negatively.
This makes Week 2’s game against the Buccaneers all the more important. If that game looks like the first one, people will take note. If Watson continues to struggle, even more people will say that it’s time for the team to move on from him.
Watson starting in the Browns’ first home game of the season could be a bad move for him and the team’s new head coach. The message it would send to the fans could be insulting and harsh, and they may not take it well.
That could create an awkward and uncomfortable environment for everyone.
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