Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said Wednesday he is ready for support from home fans ahead of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field, following an offseason marked by preseason boos and a Week 2 upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Deshaun Watson Addresses the Home Crowd Ahead of the Panthers Matchup
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson finds himself preparing for another home appearance under a microscope. As the Browns return to Huntington Bank Field for their Week 3 home opener against the Carolina Panthers, the signal-caller addressed reporters on Wednesday regarding his relationship with the local fanbase, stating that he never tries to go at war with the fans.
The tension traces back to an August preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, when Watson was booed by the crowd during his appearance in the second half. Following that contest, Watson described the reception as disrespectful and personal, noting that the crowd had cheered when he suffered a torn Achilles on the same field in October 2024.
“The biggest thing, I never try to go at war with the fans,” Watson said Sept. 23. “So I think the biggest thing is just ready for support, ready to feel their energy, ready to get this big dub for the city of Cleveland, and continue this great feeling that we have this week.”
Deshaun Watson
Watson later walked back those initial postgame remarks after being named the team’s starter, admitting that his emotions had gotten the better of him. He acknowledged the frustration surrounding the franchise, pointing to the substantial investment made when the Browns acquired him in March 2022 in a trade sending six draft picks—including three first-rounders—to the Houston Texans alongside a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Rebound Performance in Tampa Offers a Fresh Starting Point
The landscape shifted slightly after Cleveland’s 23-19 road upset over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. Outplaying former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, Watson delivered one of his strongest outings since arriving in Ohio, completing 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score.
That performance helped solidify his position under first-year coach Todd Monken, who named Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders. Monken deflected questions regarding potential crowd hostility, emphasizing that fans ultimately want good football and a winning product.
Monken noted that he does not control the fans, but suggested that every fan wants good football, a chance to win, and to be proud of their team.
The victory against Tampa Bay was Watson’s first win as a starter since Week 2 of the 2024 season. His tenure in Cleveland has been heavily disrupted by a 11-game suspension in 2022, an 11-game absence due to a shoulder injury in 2023, and a torn Achilles in October 2024 that sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign. In total, Watson has appeared in just 21 games across more than four seasons.
Preparing for the Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field
Entering Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff, the Browns sit at 1-1 after splitting their opening two games on the road. The Carolina Panthers open as 2.5-point favorites against Cleveland, setting up a high-stakes test for a team seeking to build momentum in front of its home supporters.
Whether the recent victory in Florida has fully cooled tensions remains an open question across the franchise. Watson maintains that his focus is entirely fixed on producing positive results on the field and capitalizing on the energy of the community as the veteran quarterback plays out the final year of his contract.
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