Deshaun Watson returned to the field Sunday for the first time in nearly two years, but his comeback game with the Cleveland Browns was marred by a demoralizing 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 31-year-old quarterback threw an interception on Cleveland's opening drive, setting a tone that persisted through the game.
Watson, who had not played since October 20, 2024, due to injuries, attributed the pick to Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun making a good play. "Bad plays are going to happen all the time," Watson told reporters post-game. "You look all around the league, everyone throws interceptions, everyone makes bad plays. And you’ve got to give the defense credit. [Oluokun] made a good play on that. Even though I got knocked off my platform a little bit, I thought I got it over him and he reached up and grabbed it."
Despite the early setback, Watson maintained that the experience did not affect his confidence. "You’ve got to move on to the next play and try to move forward and try to put something positive on the next drive, and we weren’t able to do that. It didn’t really bother up my confidence."
The Jaguars capitalized on the turnover, scoring a touchdown and building a 24-0 lead by halftime. The Browns' offensive struggles continued, with Watson's team going three-and-out twice after the interception. Rookie receiver KC Concepcion also lost a fumble on Cleveland's fourth possession.
Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, with one touchdown pass to rookie Denzel Boston in garbage time. He also recorded six rushes for 38 yards and was sacked five times.
When first-year head coach Todd Monken named Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders before the season, he indicated it was not a week-to-week decision. However, following the Week 1 loss, Monken expressed uncertainty regarding Watson's starting position for the upcoming game against the Buccaneers.