Deshaun Watson has won the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback battle over Shedeur Sanders. Various NFL insiders reported early on Monday that Watson will be the Browns’ QB1 for their Week 1 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13.
Deshaun Watson Gets Mixed Reactions From NFL World After Being Named Browns QB1
Assuming nothing changes before kickoff, it will be Watson’s first NFL start since October 2024. The decision came just two days after Watson was booed heavily by Browns fans during Cleveland’s preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Browns ultimately went with the veteran, and NFL personalities quickly made their feelings known.
NFL podcaster Andy Herman wrote, “The Browns have announced they are tanking for the #1 pick.”
The Browns have announced they are tanking for the #1 pick. https://t.co/RSGZudHyct
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) August 24, 2026
Former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel wrote, “Unbelievable‼️”
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NFL insider Albert Breer wrote, “The Browns open the season in Jacksonville and Tampa—their first home game isn’t until Week 3. So Deshaun Watson will start on the road, and we’ll see how that goes, with the QB he replaced in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield, on the slate in Week 2.”
The Browns open the season in Jacksonville and Tampa—their first home game isn’t until Week 3. So Deshaun Watson will start on the road, and we’ll see how that goes, with the QB he replaced in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield, on the slate in Week 2.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 24, 2026
Another NFL reporter, Benjamin Allbright, wrote, “Watson was always the opening day starter.”
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CBS analyst JP Acosta added, “Always love when the starting QB is actively hated by the fans.”
Always love when the starting QB is actively hated by the fans https://t.co/ecER0ooZY9
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) August 24, 2026
Zach Jones isn’t optimistic about the Browns head coach’s future as he wrote, “Starting to think Monken is 1 and done.”
TicTacTitans added, “Shedeur (hasn’t) got a fair chance in Cleveland. This is bozo stuff. He hates their own fans, they hate him. Give the kid a chance, Watson gives you nothing.”
Joe DeLeone added, “Massive mistake.”
Massive mistake https://t.co/5raFDpQHvm
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) August 24, 2026
Watson will now face the Browns fans again when he starts next month. It will be the same fans whose treatment the veteran quarterback called “disrespectful” and “personal” after completing just 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and throwing an interception against the Bills.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance. It’s a little bit [more] personal than that,” Watson said after the game.
“Last time I played on this field I tore my Achilles. That same fan base cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said. “What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer?”
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Head coach Todd Monken made it clear yesterday that Watson’s emotional postgame comments would not influence the QB1 decision. Watson’s selection comes despite his difficult run in Cleveland.
Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders through 2 preseason games, per TruMedia 📊
Who should be the Browns’ Week 1 starter? pic.twitter.com/zsV43XGKYX
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 22, 2026
Ever since he joined the Browns, Watson has played in just 19 games, with his 33.1 Total QBR ranking last among qualifying quarterbacks during that span. His Browns tenure has also been interrupted by injuries and an 11-game NFL suspension in 2022.
Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, started seven games as a rookie and finished the 2025 season with 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Coach Prime’s son was ranked the second-worst quarterback in PFN’s NFL QB Impact Rankings, with an impact score of 63.0 last season.
The Browns had spent the offseason evaluating both quarterbacks before Monken finally made his call.
Watson’s relationship with Cleveland fans has been complicated since the Browns traded three first-round picks to acquire him from the Houston Texans in 2022 and handed him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
His suspension and injuries have limited his time on the field. He has struggled massively to reproduce the Pro Bowl-level form he showed in Houston. The Browns are now hoping the 30-year-old can stay healthy and provide the offense with enough stability to start the season. However, the pressure on Watson will be enormous from the moment he steps onto the field in Jacksonville.
While Watson gets the job for now, Sanders will be waiting behind him, and with Browns fans already making their feelings known, the veteran quarterback will have little room for error once Week 1 arrives.
