Browns name Deshaun Watson starting QB week 1 against the Jaguars

Watson during practice with the Browns, credit: msn.com

The Browns name Deshaun Watson as the starting QB ahead of their week 1 game against the Jaguars, two days removed from Watson being booed by hometown fans on Saturday. 

The QB battle in Cleveland comes to a close following the Browns’ 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Watson was named the starter over 2025 first round pick Shedeur Sanders on Monday, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. 

Through two preseason games to this point, Watson has completed 16 of 27 of his passes for 162 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Sanders has completed 15 of 22 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, per espn.com. 

Watson, at 30-years-old, enters his fifth year with Cleveland since being traded by the Texans in 2021. Since then, Watson has played only in 19 games since then. The second half appearance for Watson on Huntington Bank Field’s turf was his first time since tearing his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, 2024 in a loss vs the Bengals.

During his time in Houston, Watson was productive. He was a pro bowler three times out of four years. He was the 2020 league passing leader with 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions and starting all 16 games, per profootballreference.com. 

Watson would deal with multiple injuries and some legal trouble following the 2020 campaign. He requested a trade from Houston and later was traded for by Cleveland, but would go on to miss all of the 2021 season.

He was suspended for the first 11 games of 2022. In 2023, Watson missed the final nine games because of a shoulder injury leading to surgery. He went on to only play seven games in 2024 because of that Achilles tendon tear and undergoing two surgeries which led him missing all of 2025. 

He was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women during massage sessions. Two grand juries would go on to not pursue criminal charges, opening the door for Watson to sign with Cleveland, which was a five-year, $230 million deal. 

Watson now enters 2026 in the final year of his contract, which has been widely considered underwhelming. The team takes on a $40.9 million cap hit this season.