CLEVELAND — Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson fired back at his detractors, calling the booing he heard from some Cleveland fans during Saturday’s home preseason loss against Buffalo “disrespectful” and “personal.”
Watson, who has a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans because of injuries, off-field issues — including an NFL suspension in 2022 — and a massive, $230 million contract, was booed repeatedly during the second half of a 31-7 loss to the Bills.
Watson was just 5 of 12 passing for 36 yards and threw an interception. He came off the bench because the Browns started Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with Watson for the starting job. Coach Todd Monken has yet to decide which QB will start the season opener in Jacksonville on Sept. 13.
Watson didn’t appreciate the reaction from the sparse crowd at Huntington Bank Field. It was his first home game since tearing his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, 2024, when fans cheered him sustaining a potential career-ending injury.
“It has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said of the boos. “It’s a little bit personal. I think that’s a disrespectful thing. I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. Just move on.”
Watson has started just 19 games since the Browns acquired him in a blockbuster trade from Houston four years ago and signed him to a fully guaranteed contract. They traded three first-round draft picks for the three-time Pro Bowl pick, who came to Cleveland embroiled in controversy.
He served an 11-game league suspension in his first season after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions. He also paid a $5 million fine and completed a treatment program.
Watson struggled with rustiness upon his return and was just beginning to play like a Pro Bowl QB again when he suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery in 2023 and had surgery. This season, he’s coming back from twice rupturing his Achilles tendon.
When Watson first injured his Achilles tendon in 2024 in a home game against Cincinnati, some fans cheered. He hasn’t forgotten.
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles and that same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said. “So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer.”
Watson said he’s not sure if he can win back any fans. He’s frustrated that the only time he feels animosity from Cleveland fans is when he’s on the field.
“When I’m in public, no one’s mentioned anything,” he said. “Because this is social media, players can’t respond back. And then in the stadium, players can’t respond back. So I get it. I understand it. So it is what it is.
“It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love in road games than I do home games. So if it is my spot and he (Monken) does make me the (starter), maybe it’s 17 away games then.”
Although he’s competing with Watson, Sanders said the booing directed at one of his teammates was bothersome.
“I don’t appreciate that at all,” Sanders said. “Regardless of competition, we’re all human beings. I think we all need to understand that. In this room, too, we’re all humans. I don’t do things to humans that I wouldn’t want done to me.
“For all the fans, we appreciate you showing up, and however you feel about the situation with Deshaun and everything, I think it’s more about a bigger purpose and it’s respect. It’s a respect thing that I feel should be there, because we’re all out there trying to do our best and serve the franchise the best way possible.”
As he nears a decision on his starting QB, Monken may now have to factor in whether Watson is mentally strong enough to handle the challenge.
Before Watson spoke, Monken said he believed Watson could win back fans with his play.
“I know you asked (Watson) ‘Hey, how does it feel to get booed?’ It’s a pretty easy question — it sucks,” Monken said. “I don’t want to get booed. It comes with the territory. You don’t want to get booed? Let’s play good football. Let’s play good at quarterback. Let’s play good on offense. Let’s play good as a team. And then you don’t have to worry about all that because it can turn just like that.
“Win, play good football, and everybody will be fine. That’s just part of it.”
