Deshaun Watson’s criticisms of Cleveland Browns fans won’t be part of the decision on whether Watson or Shedeur Sanders will be named Monday as the team’s starting quarterback.
Browns first-year coach Todd Monken said the piercing comments are a non-factor as he determines which player is the best option to be the club’s QB1.
“He emptied his heart a little bit, and I don’t think that says who he is,” Monken told reporters Sunday, one day after a 31-7 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. “I see the competitor in him. I see the everyday work he puts in, and he wants to be back.
“He wants to get back to where he was as best he can, and that’s hard. And again, I think the moment just got him after the game, and it can get all of us.”
Watson alluded to his belief that he would be facing “17 away games” if he were named the starter.
Cleveland fans vociferously showered Watson with boos during Saturday’s contest, his first at home since tearing his right Achilles tendon during Week 7 of the 2024 season.
When Watson suffered the injury, the fans applauded, and he hasn’t forgotten that. Watson later injured the Achilles again and underwent a second surgery. He didn’t appear in a game in 2025.
“The whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said Saturday. “It’s a little bit (more) personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing. So, yeah, I mean, I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And, yeah, just move on.
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt. So, what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?”
Cleveland has been outscored 65-17 in its first two preseason games. Watson started the first one and guided the team to 10 first-half points in a loss to the Chicago Bears. Sanders started against the Bills and led the team to a first-quarter touchdown.
Watson has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 162 yards and one interception this preseason. Sanders has connected on 68.2 percent of his passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Watson and Sanders have been splitting first-team repetitions in training camp practices.
“Even with (Saturday), we have to take in the full body of work,” Monken said. “That’s one opportunity that they had on the field, both of them, just like the week before, an opportunity. Just like the practices against the Bills were an opportunity to showcase their ability and others’ ability and where they’re at this point, where we’re at as an offense.
“I look at it (as): What has been the full body of work? And then, ultimately, who gives us the best chance to win Week 1?
“I’m not going to let one half of football, one frustrating moment, dictate what our decision is going to be that we think is in the best interest of the Browns moving forward and especially Week 1.”
Watson, who turns 31 next month, was traded from the Houston Texans to the Browns prior to the 2022 season. Cleveland subsequently gave him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
In addition to the Achilles injury, he also had his career derailed by an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after the league’s investigation into sexual misconduct allegations involving more than two dozen massage therapists.
In 19 games with Cleveland, Watson has a 9-10 record and has thrown 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Earlier in his career, Watson was a Pro Bowl selection three straight seasons (2018-20) for the Texans. He passed for career highs of 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2020.
Sanders, 24, was a fifth-round draft pick last season and went 3-4 as a starter while playing eight games. He passed for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl Games as a replacement after other quarterbacks withdrew.
