Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson faced sharp boos from home fans during a 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, later calling the reception personal and disrespectful. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders surged in the ongoing quarterback competition, completing his first four passes on the opening drive in a standout start.
Deshaun Watson Struggles and Calls Preseason Boos Disrespectful
Cleveland Browns fans booed quarterback Deshaun Watson at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday, but Watson said he doesn’t think it had anything to do with his performance. Watson went 5-for-12 for 36 yards in the air and an interception while also rushing for 13 yards on two attempts during the team’s 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland.
Despite the meager stat line, Watson told reporters after the preseason loss that he felt it has nothing to do about the performance. it's a little bit personal than that. So I think it's a disrespectful thing.
As USA TODAY Sports noted: Watson appeared to be referencing the sexual misconduct allegations that had previously been levied against him. He was the subject of 27 lawsuits dating back to March 2021, all by women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
Watson also recalled the cheers he alleged he got when he tore his Achilles at Huntington Bank Stadium in 2024.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said on Saturday that his performance in training camp thus far has “been decent” and that he has his eyes on the next steps in his push to win the starting job in Cleveland. The team will hold its first practice in pads on Monday and that will bring Watson closer to being in a game for the first time since tearing his Achilles midway through the 2024 season. Watson tore the Achilles again while rehabbing and he told reporters that he’s eager for a chance to show how far he’s come when the team starts playing preseason games. I’m looking forward to it,
Watson said, via a transcript from the team. “I haven’t played football in a long time, so for me, it doesn’t matter how long I play or how many games I play, I just want to play football. A lot of people wrote me off and said I wouldn’t be playing football again after two Achilles injuries. I’m proving that wrong and proving myself right. It’s a great opportunity for me to get out there and showcase what I can do.”
Shedeur Sanders Shines in Preseason Week 2 Bid
Was Shedeur Sanders perfect in his preseason Week 2 start? Hardly. Was he much, much better than Deshaun Watson? Absolutely. (Though the bar was basically on the ground).
Sanders came out firing after having to wait out a weather delay of nearly an hour, connecting on all four of his passes on the opening drive. That included a fourth-down conversion to tight end Blake Whiteheart and, later on, an 8-yard touchdown pass to Luke Floriea. Sanders had a few of Cleveland’s starters — namely rookies Spencer Fano and Denzel Boston — out there with him, but he was mostly working with backups. The Bills rested basically all of their starters, too.
Sanders agreed with Watson that more respect should be shown by the home crowd, while coach Todd Monken shared his assessment of Sanders’ play. There's a lot there to like,
coach Todd Monken said. I mean he plays with a certain amount of confidence. He has gotten a lot better at getting rid of the ball. Certainly he wants to make a play… I thought he did a lot of really good things. I'm really proud of him and where he's come from.
Quarterback Decision Looms as Training Camp Progresses
As long as Watson plays for Cleveland, there are probably going to be boos. If Sanders wins the quarterback competition, Watson probably won’t hear any boos since he’s not playing. The battle appears to be squarely between Sanders and Watson.
Watson said he has no idea when head coach Todd Monken will make a call about who starts in Week 1 between him and Shedeur Sanders, which could make their preseason results a major factor in how things play out in Cleveland. Monken also noted that Watson’s comments are not a factor in the quarterback call.
