Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson pushed back at his own supporters on Saturday night, calling the boos that rained down during the team’s preseason opener “disrespectful” and “personal.”
Watson’s standing with Browns fans has long been uneasy, shaped by injuries, off-field controversy, a 2022 NFL suspension and the weight of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract. That tension surfaced again in the second half of Cleveland’s 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, when the quarterback was booed repeatedly by the home crowd.
His performance did little to quiet the reaction. Watson completed just five of 12 passes for 36 yards and threw an interception after entering from the bench. The Browns opened the game with Shedeur Sanders, who is battling Watson for the starting quarterback job, while the team has yet to settle on its starter for the season opener in Jacksonville on September 13.
“It has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said when asked about the boos during his post-game press conference. “It’s a little bit personal. I think that’s a disrespectful thing.
“I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. Just move on.”
Deshaun Watson was sharply critical of Cleveland Browns fans after Saturday’s preseason game
The $230 million quarterback heard heavy boos from Browns supporters during the preseason defeat
Watson has started only 19 games since Cleveland landed him from the Houston Texans in a blockbuster trade four years ago and handed him a fully guaranteed deal. The Browns gave up three first-round draft picks for the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who arrived in Cleveland already surrounded by controversy.
He served an 11-game league suspension in his first season after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions. He also paid a $5 million fine and completed a treatment program.
Watson struggled with rustiness upon his return and was just beginning to play like a Pro Bowl QB again when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 and had surgery. This season, he’s coming back from twice rupturing his Achilles tendon.
When Watson first injured his Achilles tendon in 2024 in a home game against Cincinnati, some fans cheered. He hasn’t forgotten.
‘Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles and that same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt,’ Watson said. ‘So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer.’
Quarterback rival Shedeur Sanders (center) backed Watson and disagreed with the boos
Browns head coach Todd Monken is currently in the process of deciding his Week 1 QB starter
Watson said he’s not sure if he can win back any fans. He’s frustrated that the only time he feels animosity from Cleveland fans is when he’s on the field.
‘When I’m in public, no one’s mentioned anything,’ he said. ‘Because this is social media, players can’t respond back. And then in the stadium, players can’t respond back. So I get it. I understand it. So it is what it is.
‘It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love in road games than I do home games. So if it is my spot and he (Monken) does make me the (starter), maybe it’s 17 away games then.’
Although he’s competing with Watson, former Colorado star Sanders said the booing directed at one of his teammates was bothersome.
‘I don’t appreciate that at all,’ Sanders said. ‘Regardless of competition, we’re all human beings. I think we all need to understand that. In this room, too, we’re all humans. I don’t do things to humans that I wouldn’t want done to me.
‘For all the fans, we appreciate you showing up, and however you feel about the situation with Deshaun and everything, I think it’s more about a bigger purpose and it’s respect. It’s a respect thing that I feel should be there, because we’re all out there trying to do our best and serve the franchise the best way possible.’
As he nears a decision on his starting QB, Monken may now have to factor in whether Watson is mentally strong enough to handle the challenge.
Watson hugs Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen at the end of the preseason home opener
Before Watson spoke, Monken said he believed Watson could win back fans with his play.
‘I know you asked (Watson) “Hey, how does it feel to get booed?” It’s a pretty easy question – it sucks,’ Monken said. ‘I don’t want to get booed. It comes with the territory. You don’t want to get booed? Let’s play good football.
‘Let’s play good at quarterback. Let’s play good on offense. Let’s play good as a team. And then you don’t have to worry about all that because it can turn just like that.
‘Win, play good football, and everybody will be fine. That’s just part of it.’
