Browns fans may not love this Deshaun Watson update

First-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken did not give quarterback Deshaun Watson the strongest endorsement when Monken said on Monday that he could only "anticipate" that Watson will start Cleveland's Week 2 matchup at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20. 

That said, the expectation is that Browns fans hoping Monken would turn to second-year pro Shedeur Sanders following the club's 34-10 Week 1 loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars will be disappointed. 

According to NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, those Browns supporters may want to prepare themselves to see plenty of Watson over at least the next several weeks. 

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"Quarterback Deshaun Watson wasn’t terrible in his return to action (16-for-22, 205 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), even though the Browns were," Vacchiano wrote. "Even if he had flopped, he wasn’t in much danger of losing his job. On my visit to Browns training camp, multiple people told me first-year coach Todd Monken planned to give Watson a long leash early in the season. So expect him to remain the starter at least through October — for better or, more likely, for worse." 

Multiple stats indicate that Watson was "terrible" against Jacksonville. Specifically, he completed 11-of-17 passes for 100 yards with an interception through the game's first three quarters, and his overall numbers were bolstered by the fact that he tossed a 46-yard touchdown pass when the Browns were trailing by 31 points with under two minutes remaining in regulation. 

According to ESPN stats, Watson ended Week 1 ranked 25th in the NFL with a 34.4 adjusted QBR. 

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Tampa Bay QB1 and former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will almost certainly be looking for revenge this coming Sunday. As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Cleveland as an 8.5-point road underdog for that Week 2 contest. 

Pockets of Browns fans were already upset at Monken over his handling of the team's quarterback situation, and many of those paying customers are planning to make their voices heard during the club's home opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27 if Cleveland enters that game at 0-2.

"After the home fans booed Watson during his only preseason action in Cleveland, Watson might be down to his last chance to show great improvement — and back up Monken’s beliefs — before the Browns play their home opener in Week 3 against Carolina," Browns insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic shared on Monday. 

In short, it sounds like Monken could alter his "long leash" plan if Watson produces a poor performance at Tampa Bay's Raymond James Stadium.