Browns fans make their thoughts clear on Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Browns fans make their thoughts clear on Deshaun Watson

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 4:55 PM ET

Following a lengthy weather delay, Shedeur Sanders took the field behind the Cleveland Browns' second-team offense on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills.

The former fifth-round pick took control of the offense for the first half of the game, with Deshaun Watson taking over in the third quarter, as planned.

Unsurprisingly, Browns fans didn't welcome him back with open arms in his first home game since his season-ending injury in 2024.

Watson was met with heavy boos, and he didn't do himself any favors with his play.

Deshaun Watson's ugly welcome speaks volumes about Browns fans' feelings

"Boos after the fourth-down miss. That should be it for Watson," Browns insider Zac Jackson shared on X. "5-of-12, 35 yards, INT, 14.6 rating."

Boos after the fourth-down miss. That should be it for Watson.

5-of-12, 35 yards, INT, 14.6 rating
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) August 22, 2026

Watson struggled behind a shaky offensive line, but the interception came on a clear overthrow to Gage Larvadain.

This reception is far from a surprise, as Watson hasn't done much to endear himself to his fan base.

Earlier in the week, he openly admitted that he didn't care whether the fans booed him.

Some Browns fans even cheered when he suffered the season-ending injury that put his future with the organization in question, and team owner Jimmy Haslam admitted the trade was a "swing and miss."

The Browns traded a plethora of draft picks to get Watson, signing him to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal in a move that might go down as the worst trade in NFL history.

And, given his issues off the field and how he's dealt with the fan base and criticism, it wasn't much of a surprise to hear the fans speak their minds on Saturday.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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