Deshaun Watson’s future in Cleveland is suddenly being questioned at a much higher level.
Following Watson’s heated postgame comments after the Browns’ 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, NFL insider Albert Breer suggested the quarterback’s place on the roster could now be in doubt, not just his status as the team’s starter.
Albert Breer Sounds Alarm on Deshaun Watson
Watson’s comments came after he was greeted by loud boos when he entered the game in the second half.
The veteran quarterback said the reaction from Browns fans was “personal” and had little to do with his performance. He also referenced his October 2024 Achilles injury, claiming some fans cheered when he went down.
Watson called the treatment “disrespectful,” comments that quickly drew widespread criticism.
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Breer believes the situation may have gone too far for Cleveland to simply move past it.
“I went into yesterday pretty certain that Deshaun Watson was going to be the Browns starter,” Breer said on X. “Now I’m not sure he’s going to be on the team. That press conference is going to be difficult to come back from. We’ll see how the decision-makers reckon with it.”
I went into yesterday pretty certain that Deshaun Watson was going to be the Browns starter. Now I’m not sure he’s going to be on the team. That press conference is going to be difficult to come back from.
We’ll see how the decision-makers reckon with it.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 23, 2026
Breer’s comments suggest Watson’s situation has changed significantly. He was previously viewed as the favorite to start largely because of his contract and Cleveland’s massive financial commitment to him. Now, his relationship with the organization and its fanbase has become another major factor.
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Browns Face Difficult QB Decision
The controversy comes as Cleveland continues to evaluate Watson alongside Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders, who ranked as the second-worst-ranked quarterback last season on PFN’s QB Impact Metric, started the preseason matchup against Buffalo and looked sharp early. He completed his first eight passes and capped Cleveland’s opening drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass.
Watson took over after halftime but struggled to generate offense. He finished with just 36 passing yards and threw an interception as the Browns went on to suffer a 31-7 defeat.
That performance, combined with the backlash surrounding Watson’s comments, has only increased the pressure on Cleveland’s decision-makers.
The Browns must now weigh Watson’s enormous financial commitment against the potential impact of keeping him around. Moving on would have significant financial consequences, but keeping him could further damage the relationship among the quarterback, the locker room, and the fanbase.
With the regular season approaching, head coach Todd Monken and general manager Andrew Berry face a difficult decision. What once seemed a question of whether Watson or Sanders would start could now be a much bigger one: Will Watson even remain with the Browns?
