Deshaun Watson’s return to Cleveland’s home field was meant to represent another phase of his redemption. However, he was offered a reminder of how far his relationship with Browns fans has fallen.
John Middlekauff Sees a Breaking Point for Deshaun Watson in Cleveland
Nearly two years after his last appearance at the stadium, Watson walked onto the field Saturday against the Buffalo Bills and was greeted with loud boos. The reaction followed him through the third quarter and grew louder as Cleveland’s offense had a hard time in a 31-7 preseason loss.
Watson finished 5 of 12 for 36 yards with an interception.
For a quarterback under microscopic review, it was not the kind of performance that was going to quiet the crowd.
Watson, however, did not believe the boos were simply about his play.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance. It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think that’s a disrespectful thing,” Watson said after the game.
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The comments come amid a difficult stretch for Watson, whose time in Cleveland has never matched the expectations that came with his signing.
The Browns sent three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to Houston for Watson in 2022. Cleveland then gave him a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. Years later, that gamble has produced only 19 starts.
Watson missed a lot of time during his Cleveland tenure and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2024. Before that injury, his play had already been cause of concern. PFSN gave him a 59.9 grade on its QB Impact Metric that season.
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His return Saturday did little to change the conversation.
Watson entered after Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with him for the starting job. Sanders completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The contrast was hard for the crowd to ignore. It was also difficult for analysts to ignore.
John Middlekauff, a former Philadelphia Eagles scout, said Saturday felt like a possible breaking point for the Browns.
“I think yesterday was a tipping point. You can’t have a guy that your entire fan base just despises personally and professionally.”
Colin Cowherd w/ John Middlekauff: “You can’t have a guy your entire fanbase despises — personally and professionally. Deshaun Watson is objectively awful. This guy is as toxic as anyone in any business in America. I don’t blame the fans.” pic.twitter.com/GlHCB5Zg8X
— Shedeur X (@ShedeurX) August 24, 2026
He talked about the contract, the QB’s injury history, his off-field controversies, and the way all of those factors have combined to create an increasingly difficult situation for Cleveland.
Watson faced dozens of civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct and sexual assault during his time in Houston. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges in 2022. The NFL later suspended him for 11 games and fined him $5 million after an investigation into whether he violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
The civil litigation eventually came to an end through settlements and dismissals, with the final two lawsuits dismissed with prejudice in January 2026 following private settlements.
Nevertheless, the history remains part of the public discussion around Watson.
“You know everything that happened off the field. Like we’re not idiots,” Middlekauff added. “We’ve all lived long enough now, and most importantly, they might have been able to forget it if you could play, and you are objectively awful. I mean, terrible. And if you didn’t have an albatross of a contract, they would cut you like an undrafted free agent. I mean, they really would.”
Meanwhile, after the game on Saturday, Watson also remembered his last appearance at the stadium, when he tore his Achilles.
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles,” Watson said. “That same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt.”
His comments raised an uncomfortable question about what exactly Browns fans were booing on Saturday.
Middlekauff argued that the boos were less about the injury itself and more about the frustration regarding the entire situation.
“This guy is, I would say, as toxic as anyone in any business right now. I’m dead serious. I mean, I think yesterday, I don’t blame the fans. Like now, booing him for tearing his Achilles, but I don’t think they were booing that he was hurt. They were just booing the situation,” Middlekauff said.
Sanders has become a popular alternative for fans who would rather see the franchise move in a different direction. His performance on Saturday was not flawless, but it gave Cleveland something it has been missing: a reason to wonder what comes next.
Nevertheless, Browns coach Todd Monken declined to name a starter after the game.
