DESHAUN WATSON jogged toward the tunnel leading to the Cleveland Browns' locker room at Huntington Bank Field surrounded by cheers last Sunday -- a stark contrast to the loud boos he received the last time he played in front of the hometown fans. Waiting outside the locker room for the Browns' starting quarterback was general manager Andrew Berry, who smiled broadly.
The win marked Watson's second fourth-quarter comeback in as many weeks, which seemed implausible after a late August preseason game, when Watson struggled and was loudly booed. That preseason discontent seemed like the final chapter for a player who received a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract in March 2022 but was crumbling under high expectations.
Entering the 2026 season, the consensus view was that the Browns might part ways with Watson, taking an $86 million dead cap hit. Instead, Watson emerged as the starter following a monthslong competition. His late-game performances and the Browns' 2-1 start have added another wrinkle to the NFL's most confounding quarterback dynamic.
While team sources indicated that Watson's performance hasn't convinced the Browns he is the long-term answer, Cleveland's surprising start has shifted the conversation. "I feel like I have a lot of football left in my game, in my career," Watson said. The Browns have selected three quarterbacks in the past two drafts, including Shedeur Sanders, but first-year coach Todd Monken named Watson the winner of a quarterback competition.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing