Deshaun Watson may have the early edge in the starting quarterback battle, but the Cleveland Browns haven’t exactly hidden their appetite for showcasing Shedeur Sanders on social media.
May 4 — Star Wars Day — is circled on every NFL team’s social media calendar. Watson, who wears No. 4, would’ve been the obvious layup for a “May the 4th Be With You” post. Instead, the Browns went in a different direction, featuring running back Quinshon Judkins.
“Media team really just said, ‘Yeah, throw a Jedi fit on Judkins, why the (expletive) not?'” a fan said.
Watson remains a lingering PR pothole for the Browns. The off-field allegations that followed him to Cleveland still shadow every headline, making it difficult for the franchise to fully turn the page in the court of public opinion.
On the field, the return hasn’t justified the risk: inconsistent play when available, paired with long stretches off it, has only amplified the scrutiny. The Browns have avoided highlighting Watson. But if he’s named the starter, they’ll have to confront it sooner rather than later.
Shedeur Sanders Continues to Shine on Social
Meanwhile, Sanders’ face has been plastered all over the account. The second-year quarterback graduated from the University of Colorado recently, earning his degree in sociology. The Browns posted about it and it was featured on their feed multiple times through tags on other accounts.
On the first day of Cleveland’s voluntary offseason program, Sanders appeared prominently in three of four Instagram posts — including a video of him entering the building. Watson, who was also in attendance, was not pictured in any of them. That trend has continued.
The Browns understand the issue. JW Johnson, a Browns executive, appeared on ESPN Cleveland and, unprompted, offered the following statement on Watson.
“Deshaun looks great by the way. He’s done a great job. He looks healthy. He’s in a great head space. We’ll see how it all shakes out. He’s got nothing to lose,” Johnson said. “If he’s our starting quarterback, I know there will be people that probably won’t be supportive, but they should be supportive as much as they can. If he plays great, then awesome. If he doesn’t, it is what it is and we’re looking ahead to the future.”
ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo said Johnson’s message was deliberate.
“He said that for a reason. He’s trying to condition Browns fans out there that there’s a possibility Watson might start,” Rizzo said.
Tony Grossi offered a similar read.
“What I make of what JW said is just a continuation of trying to condition the fans of — I call it the inevitability, let’s just say the possibility — that Deshaun’s going to be back on the field again this year after everyone wrote him off,” Grossi said.
Report: Deshaun Watson Frontrunner for Starting Job
Watson has gained momentum in the quarterback battle after the first series of offseason workouts, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
The report from Cabot made some noise and head coach Todd Monken addressed the report directly on 92.3 The Fan.
“If that’s going to bother me or it’s going to bother Shedeur or Deshaun, they have no chance of being either the head coach here or the QB of the Cleveland Browns,” he said. “It’s the world we live in. What we do on the field is what matters most. You want to stop the narrative? Play well.”
The last time Watson was on the field, the reaction was jarring. Fans cheered as he was carted off with what ended up being an injury that cost him more than a year. If he does end up winning the job, he’ll try to win back a fanbase that’s already shown where it stands.
Browns Face Uncomfortable Truth About Deshaun Watson