Come Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, when the Cleveland Browns visit the Jacksonville Jaguars, former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will make his first start since Week 7 of the 2024 season.
“BREAKING: The #Browns are naming Deshaun Watson as their starting QB, per multiple sources,” The Schultz Report’s Jordan Schultz reported on X on August 24.
“Shedeur Sanders will be the backup.”
Shedeur Sanders will be the backup.
“The favorite going into camp. Now the starter, officially,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport posted on X, corroborating the news with a report of his own.
Watson, 30, has been with the Browns since 2022, when the Texans traded him to Cleveland for a bounty of picks. Houston used those selections to build itself into one of the more formidable groups in the AFC, if not the entire NFL.
Ex-Texans QB Deshaun Watson Sparks Strong Reactions With Big Career News
GettyDeshaun Watson is an NFL starter once again.
Watson’s journey with the Browns has taken many twists already. This is just another as reactions poured in following the news. The news comes following an emotional response from the three-time Pro Bowler about fans.
“This is the final year of Watson’s five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contracts, the likes of which have not been seen in the NFL since,” The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones posted on X on August 24. “Browns coach Todd Monken said Watson’s postgame comments this weekend wouldn’t impact this decision, and they did not.”
Pro Football Focus’ Mike Florio argued naming Watson QB1 would be a “double-barreled flaming middle finger to their fans.”
“First two games on the road,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo posted, referencing Watson’s comments about having road environments every week after he was booed in the Browns preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. “Week 3 the #Browns’ home opener. If he’s still the guy.”
Deshaun Watson Gets Reality Check
GettyDeshaun Watson is not done proving himself.
Others shared Garafolo’s sentiment that Watson is still under the microscope. The first two weeks could allow him to solidify his position.
“Watson was the front runner throughout the spring and during training camp,” NFL on Prime’s James Palmer posted on X. “If it was close, which it appears it was as Watson didn’t run away with the job, theoretically I guess you go with Watson because it’s easier to go from Watson to Sanders as opposed to the reverse. But obviously I get there are other factors at play that will create a lot of questions.”
Watson will get an interesting challenge along the way.
“The Browns open the season in Jacksonville and Tampa—their first home game isn’t until Week 3,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer posted on X. “So Deshaun Watson will start on the road, and we’ll see how that goes, with the QB he replaced in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield, on the slate in Week 2.”
Mayfield is mired in his own contract standoff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been a speculative replacement for C.J. Stroud, too. But this could very well be Watson’s final opportunity as a starter. The Browns are equipped to replace him as soon as next season.
Cleveland has a pair of first-round picks in the 2027 draft. They could use those to land a QB of the future in the draft or to trade for one.
Reactions Pour In After Deshaun Watson Gets Major Career News