Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was called out for his performance in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cleveland was run off the field from the start, with the Jaguars flexing their ability from the opening kickoff. The Browns defense couldn't stop Trevor Lawrence and company, while Cleveland's offense was pretty much non-existent.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson looked like a shell of his former self in this game, continuing his poor play for the Browns. Watson finished the game throwing for 205 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
But the numbers don't tell the full story, with Watson failing to control any aspect of the game thought. Watson's struggles highlight the concerns from the fanbase coming into the season after he was named the starting quarterback.
NFL analyst Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report handed out report card grades to each quarterback around the league. And for Watson, his grade came in as an F.
"The sentiment within the Cleveland Browns fanbase is one of complete dismay, with no hope of this season being productive. The reason is simple: Deshaun Watson shouldn't be the franchise's starting quarterback. His performance Sunday showed exactly why," Sobleski wrote.
But the Browns have maintained that Watson is the starter, despite the poor performance in Week 1. However, if something doesn't change soon, head coach Todd Monken may have to make some tough choices.
Monken didn't want to put the Week 1 loss all on Watson, saying that it was a full-team effort in the defeat. But Watson didn't help out at all, looking lost at times on the field.
Much of his production came toward the end of the game, including the lone touchdown of the game. To Watson's credit, the Jaguars do have one of the top defensive units in football, but his issues are being placed under a microscope.
Watson also was making his return to the field after missing all of last season due to injury. But the lack of control and decision-making were the most alarming for the veteran quarterback.
"Watson looked uncomfortable in the team's offense. He had no feel for the pocket, which made life so much harder on a brand new offensive line," Sobleski wrote.
The Browns will hope for better results in Week 2 when they travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Cleveland can't put together a stronger performance, the 2026 season could be over before it ever had a chance to begin.
