Cleveland Browns veteran Deshaun Watson rose several spots on NFL.com's QB rankings after his Week 2 outing.
Not only did the Cleveland Browns beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, but quarterback Deshaun Watson also played well.
The former Houston Texans star went 24/30 through the air for 238 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in Week 2.
Watson's second TD pass was to Blake Whiteheart with under four minutes left in regulation. It wound up being the game-winning play.
Watson is the first starting QB to lead a fourth-quarter comeback to snap a six-plus game personal losing streak since Justin Fields last season with the New York Jets.
Heading into Week 3, Watson rose several spots on NFL.com's QB rankings after his Week 2 outing. He went from No. 32 to No. 26.
Watson has 443 passing yards and three passing touchdowns through two games. He has one interception and is completing 76.9% of his passes. The three-time Pro Bowler missed the entire 2025 season recovering from the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in 2024.
"Every week I'm getting more confident and more comfortable with myself," Watson said. "Like I told the team, I feel good. I'm healthy. I trust the work that I've put in the last two years and [if] you got to put the ball in my hands, I'm ready for it. So whatever we got to do to make the team win and keep the guys moving, I'm ready for it."
The Browns host the Carolina Panthers (1-1) in Week 3 in the team's home opener. Will Watson be booed or cheered by the home fans?
No one knows, but Watson is just controlling what he can control at this point.
“I'm just happy we got the win,” Watson said. “I'm right where I'm supposed to be. I'll leave the journey in God's hands and let the outcome be the outcome.”
Monken may have benched Watson for Shedeur Sanders in Week 3 had Watson struggled in Week 2. However, Watson came through in the clutch and led the Browns to their first win since January.
“I'm so happy for him,” Monken said of Watson. “Good for him. Good for 22 months working his (tail) off to get to where he's at. I'm gonna leave it at that.”
Browns fans may still boo Watson in the home opener. After all, two dozen women accused Watson of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions and Watson is only 10-11 as Cleveland's starting QB.
However, for one day, things went well for Watson and the Browns and we haven't been able to say that in a long, long time.
The Panthers have one of the hottest offenses in the NFL, so the Browns' defense is in for a tough test in Week 3.
Carolina QB Bryce Young has 648 passing yards and six touchdown passes through two games. The Panthers scored 59 points in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and 34 in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Watson enters the Browns-Panthers game with 18,347 passing yards, 126 passing touchdowns, 49 interceptions, 2,202 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns with Houston and Cleveland. His starting record is 38-36-0.
Watson will have an opportunity to turn any boos into cheers with another strong outing in Week 3. A bad outing, though, and the fans will be quick to let him hear it, the same way they did in the preseason against the Buffalo Bills.
Watson made it clear on Wednesday that despite the tumultuous relationship between him and the Browns' fan base, he wants no beef with them.
It will be interesting to see how Watson performs in Week 3 against the Panthers.
