Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was seen interacting positively with fans, posing for selfies and signing autographs in the days following his selection as the team's starting quarterback. This comes shortly after Watson criticized Browns fans, calling their booing during a preseason game "disrespectful."
During a preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Watson was audibly booed by a portion of the home crowd. "It has nothing to do about the performance," Watson stated after the game. "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."
He further elaborated on his feelings, recalling an instance where the same fanbase cheered when he tore his Achilles tendon in October 2024. "Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles and that same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt. So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer."
Despite the backlash from some fans and analysts regarding his comments and on-field performance since joining the Browns, Watson was named the starting quarterback ahead of Shedeur Sanders. This decision has reportedly met with significant fan dissatisfaction, given his record since being acquired via a major trade from Houston four years ago. The Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed contract, for which they traded three first-round draft picks, and have seen minimal return on the investment.
Amidst the controversy, Watson appeared to be attempting to mend fences. Before the Browns' final preseason game against the New England Patriots, he was observed greeting fans at the sideline and taking photos. Watson and Sanders did not play in this final preseason game.
Head coach Todd Monken stated that Watson's comments to the fans had no bearing on the decision to name him starter. "Absolutely not. Zero," Monken said. "There was nothing to do with that. Ultimately the fans want us to win and put a good product on the field. That's our job as coaches. And when we don't, I understand their frustration. But ultimately they don't decide who plays. I mean, who would I be if I let someone outside of the building decide who plays?"
Analysts have offered differing opinions on the quarterback situation. Former Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III suggested that the decision to start Watson was not Monken's. Ryan Fitzpatrick, also a former NFL quarterback, predicted that Watson would struggle and that Shedeur Sanders would eventually take over as the starter, with Dillon Gabriel also potentially seeing playing time. Gabriel threw three touchdown passes in the first half of the final preseason game in a 37-13 victory over the Patriots.