The Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting QB, but Shedeur Sanders could start several games in 2026.
Deshaun Watson will start Week 1 for the Cleveland Browns against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Browns fans are not happy. Someone vandalized Hall of Famer Jim Brown's statue with negative Watson signs and several videos have circulated online showing Watson's Cleveland jersey being burned.
Watson will get booed in the home opener in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. However, according to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports, Shedeur Sanders could start several games in 2026.
“When I talked to my sources around the building, there’s kind of this element of, ‘I would be very surprised if we don’t see Shedeur Sanders start a game this season and a LOT of games this season.’”
Of the 50 quarterbacks with at least 15 starts since Watson joined the Browns in 2022, only Will Levis has a lower QBR. Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions.
Sanders finished his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He went 3-4 as a starter.
The Browns play the Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts this season. That's a pretty tough schedule.
All signs point toward Cleveland missing the playoffs in Year 1 of the Todd Monken era and having one of the worst records in the league. As long as Watson is under center, the boo birds will be loud during home games.
When Watson tore his Achilles in 2024, Browns fans cheered. Watson was also booed on Saturday (8/22) during Cleveland's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and he wasn't happy about it.
After the Browns named him the starter on Monday, Watson opened his news conference with a two-minute statement in which he apologized for his postgame comments.
Browns fans deserve better than this. If and when Sanders replaces Watson, he might get the loudest and longest standing ovation in Cleveland sports history.
That's how much Browns fans hate Watson.
