The Cleveland Browns have officially named Deshaun Watson their starter for the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, choosing the veteran over newcomer Shedeur Sanders. The decision marks a high stakes gamble for a franchise still reeling from one of the most expensive and controversial acquisitions in professional sports history. Watson enters the final year of his massive contract after missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to recurring Achilles injuries, meaning this will be his first competitive action since October 2024.
The announcement comes at a volatile moment for the relationship between Watson and the local community. Just two days prior, Watson sparked backlash by criticizing Browns fans following a dismal preseason performance where he managed only 35 yards and an interception. After being booed by the crowd, Watson suggested that the hostility was personal rather than performance based, calling the reaction disrespectful. While those comments created a firestorm, head coach Todd Monken insisted that player conduct would not dictate depth chart decisions, citing Watson’s overall body of work throughout training camp as the deciding factor.
Following the news of his starting role, Watson offered a measured apology to the public, admitting that his emotions got the best of him during a difficult recovery process. He acknowledged the immense financial investment the organization made to bring him to Cleveland and conceded that things have not gone in the intended direction given his injury history and struggles on the field. Despite these apologies, many in Cleveland remain skeptical given that Watson has spent more time sidelined or suspended than actually leading the offense since arriving from Houston.
While Sanders showed significant growth during the preseason and pushed the veteran for every rep, Monken believes Watson gives them the best immediate chance to move the ball on the road. To support him, Cleveland has aggressively overhauled its offensive line and added young talent like receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. As Watson prepares to take the field again just before his 31st birthday, he faces an uphill battle to redeem himself in a city where patience has largely run dry.
