Deshaun Watson is back on the field for Cleveland, but his return has not brought the warm welcome he might have expected. The quarterback heard loud boos during his latest preseason appearance, adding a difficult page to his Cleveland Browns tenure.
After Watson’s recent media comments, Chad Johnson believes he should stop focusing on the reaction and let his performance change the conversation.
Chad Johnson Tells Deshaun Watson to Let His Play Silence Browns Fans
Watson’s return has already come with plenty of pressure. In Cleveland’s preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, he struggled to move the offense and became the target of the home crowd’s frustration. Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception, giving Browns fans little reason to ease their criticism.
The quarterback was clearly unhappy with the reception after the game. Watson called the boos disrespectful and argued that the crowd’s reaction had more to do with him personally than his performance on the field.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance. It’s a little bit personal than that. So I think that’s a disrespectful thing,” Watson said.
He also remembered the reaction from some Browns fans when he suffered his Achilles injury in 2024. For Watson, that moment has shaped how he views the hostility he continues to receive at home.
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Johnson offered Watson a different way to handle the situation while discussing it on the “Nightcap” podcast. The six-time Pro Bowler brought up Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, two quarterbacks who also experienced harsh treatment from their own supporters.
“When Baker Mayfield was in Cleveland, you know what they did at one point when they weren’t winning? They booed Baker,” Johnson said. “Sam Darnold was with the Jets. You know what they did to Sam Darnold when he wasn’t playing well?”
His co-host Shannon Sharpe replied, “They booed him.”
Johnson used those examples to show Watson that boos are not unusual when a quarterback struggles. Mayfield and Darnold eventually moved to different teams and improved their standing with fans through stronger performances.
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For Watson, Johnson believes the answer should be similar. If Todd Monken names him the Browns’ starter, Watson needs to focus on playing well instead of fighting the crowd’s reaction.
“He has to do everything in his power to play good football,” Johnson said.
Shannon Sharpe agrees with Todd Monken on Deshaun Watson, saying strong play will silence the boos. Sharpe adds that if anyone understands what Watson is dealing with, it’s him. When people jumped off his bandwagon and the negative comments flooded in, he refused to let it affect… pic.twitter.com/kUzG8yjeb9
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) August 24, 2026
The pressure around Watson comes from more than one preseason performance. Injuries, missed time, and the expectations attached to his fully guaranteed contract have all shaped the way Cleveland views him.
Still, Johnson believes Watson has control over the most important part of the equation.
“Forget the winning,” Johnson said. “But the wins and losses come on your shoulders because you are the one that get to touch the ball the most.”
The Browns finished 5-12 last season, landing last on PFN NFL Offense Impact Rankings. So, the fans want the team to improve, and for that, Watson will have to perform. And, indeed, as Johnson said, he cannot control the boos, but he can control his play.
