Deshaun Watson did himself no favors with the Cleveland Browns fanbase following a lopsided preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Watson was met with a hostile reception when he entered Saturday’s 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. The boos continued as he struggled, completing 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said. “It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing.”
Watson pointed to his last appearance at Huntington Bank Field. Some fans cheered after he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in October 2024.
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles,” Watson said. “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 if they’re in the city, and they cheer?”
Browns QB Deshaun Watson: ‘Though it Would Be Different’
GettyQuarterback Deshaun Watson greets quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian before a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Watson said he doesn’t regret coming to Cleveland but admitted he “thought it would be different.”
“I thought being away for two years and working myself back from two Achilles injuries and putting the time in and being around the facility, being around the city, doing charity work in the city, supporting the Cleveland Browns, hanging out with fans whenever I do see them, being honest, being the type of person that I know I am and the character would help. And I guess it hasn’t,” Watson said. “So that’s why I say it’s personal. So it is what it is. People have their own opinions. There’s only so much you can do to change that. So at the end of the day, I just have to continue to just work on it and strive to be better mentally moving forward.”
Watson’s time in Cleveland has been defined by controversy, injuries and inconsistent play. The Browns traded three first-round picks as part of the package to acquire him from the Houston Texans in 2022, then signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
He served an 11-game suspension during his first season and has appeared in only 19 regular-season games for Cleveland. Watson has gone 9-10 as the starter.
Browns Fans Call for Deshaun Watson to Be Cut
Watson’s postgame comments only intensified the reaction on social media.
“Take the L and cut Deshaun Watson tonight,” one fan wrote on X.
“Idk how you don’t cut Deshaun after that game and press conference,” another said.
“Yeah, the Deshaun Watson experiment is officially over in Cleveland,” a third fan wrote.
Another fan argued that the Browns should start Shedeur Sanders regardless of how head coach Todd Monken evaluates the quarterback competition.
“If you’re the Cleveland Browns, & you care about your fans, you literally have to start Shedeur Sanders, whether it’s earned, justified, or not,” the fan wrote. “The Browns fans in general literally do not rock with Deshaun Watson.”
Monken offered a much blunter assessment when asked about Watson’s reception from the fan base.
“You don’t wanna get booed? Play good football,” Monken said. “Win, play good football, and everyone will be fine.”
Releasing Watson would also come with significant financial consequences. His contract is fully guaranteed, meaning cutting him would not erase the Browns’ remaining commitment.
Calls Mount for Browns to Cut Deshaun Watson After Postgame Blowup