Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has described the booing he heard from Cleveland's own fans during Saturday's home loss to Buffalo as "disrespectful" and "personal." Watson, who has a strained relationship with the fanbase due to injuries, off-field issues, and a massive contract, was booed repeatedly in the second half of the 31-7 defeat.
Performance and reaction
Watson completed just 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and threw an interception in the preseason game. He entered off the bench in place of Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with Watson for the starting job. Head coach Todd Monken has not yet chosen which quarterback will start the season opener in Jacksonville on 13 September.
Watson said the boos were not related to his performance. "It has nothing to do about the performance," he said. "It's a little bit personal. I think that's a disrespectful thing. I'm going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. Just move on."
Background in Cleveland
In 2022, the Browns traded three first-round picks to the Houston Texans for Watson, who had been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. Cleveland then signed him to a $230m fully guaranteed contract. Watson never faced criminal charges, but the NFL suspended him for 11 games of the 2022 season after its own investigation.
Watson has not completed a full season with the Browns due to injury and suspension and has consistently ranked among the worst quarterbacks in the league in QBR. He has thrown 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in four seasons with the team. The Browns have played just one postseason game since his arrival, which they lost, despite having one of the best defenses in the league; Watson missed that game due to injury.
Injury and fan reaction
Saturday's game was Watson's first at home since tearing his achilles tendon in October 2024, an injury some Browns fans cheered. Watson recalled that moment: "Last time I played on this field, I tore my achilles and that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt," he said. "So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer."
Watson said he is unsure if he can win back Browns fans. "When I'm in public, no one's mentioned anything," he said. "Because this is social media, players can't respond back. And then in the stadium, players can't respond back. So I get it. I understand it. So it is what it is."
"It's a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love in road games than I do home games. So if it is my spot and he [Monken] does make me the (starter), maybe it's 17 away games then." Last year, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted the team's decision to acquire Watson has been a "big swing and miss."
