Browns Coach Addresses Watson Fan Boos Ahead of QB Selection

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken stated Sunday that quarterback Deshaun Watson's postgame reaction to fan boos will not influence his upcoming starting quarterback selection between Watson and Shedeur Sanders, scheduled for announcement on Monday.

The declaration came after Watson voiced frustration following Cleveland's 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, where he completed 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and an interception. The game marked Watson's first appearance at Huntington Bank Field since suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in October 2024.

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, Monken defended his quarterback's reaction to the crowd's hostility while evaluating the broader competition.

"He emptied his heart a little bit, and I don't think that says who he is," Monken said, according to espn.com. "I see the competitor in him. I see the every-day work he puts in, and he wants to be back.

He wants to get back to where he was as best he can, and that's hard. And again, I think the moment just got him after the game, and it can get all of us."

Monken emphasized that the decision would rest on evaluating each player's entire trajectory rather than a single outing.

"Even with yesterday, we have to take in the full body of work," Monken said. "That's one opportunity that they had on the field, both of them, just like the week before, an opportunity. Just like the practices against the Bills were an opportunity to showcase their ability and others' ability and where they're at this point, where we're at as an offense."

The head coach reiterated that immediate performance criteria outweigh external distractions.

"I look at it: What has been the full body of work? And then ultimately who gives us the best chance to win Week 1?" Monken said. "I'm not going to let one half of football, one frustrating moment, dictate what our decision is going to be that we think is in the best interest of the Browns moving forward and especially Week 1."

Addressing team performance expectations directly, Monken minimized concerns regarding potential crowd reaction issues during home games.

"What I'm concerned about is us playing well as a team and on offense," Monken said. "Because when you play well, none of the other stuff matters. Just play well. Play well, coach well, score points, win games, and none of that will even matter."

Reflecting on the relationship with home supporters, Monken expressed confidence that execution on the field would reset fan dynamics.

"I know you asked (Watson) 'Hey, how does it feel to get booed?' It's a pretty easy question — it sucks," Monken said, as reported by apnews.com. "I don't want to get booed.

It comes with the territory. You don't want to get booed? Let's play good football.

Let's play good at quarterback. Let's play good on offense. Let's play good as a team.

And then you don't have to worry about all that because it can turn just like that."

Monken noted that continuous hard work remains the primary driver for Watson's return to form.

"All I’ve seen from him is a player that’s worked awfully hard to get back to where he is now and given himself a chance to compete at the highest level," Monken said, according to nytimes.com. "I’ve been really pleased with how he’s worked, how he’s approached every day."

Following Saturday's contest, Watson characterized the reaction from the home crowd as personal rather than performance-based.

"The whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said, according to espn.com. "It's a little bit [more] personal than that. So I think it's a disrespectful thing.

So yeah, I mean, I'm going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on."

Watson recalled his previous injury on the same field when describing his reaction to the audience's reception.

"Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt," Watson 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?"

The quarterback further expanded on the challenges of dealing with fan dynamics during public games.

"When I’m in public, no one’s mentioned anything," Watson said, as reported by apnews.com. "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."

Watson added that playing on the road often feels more welcoming than home fixtures.

"It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love in road games than I do home games," Watson said. "So if it is my spot and he (Monken) does make me the (starter), maybe it’s 17 away games then."

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who started the first half of Saturday's game against Buffalo, expressed disapproval regarding the audience's reaction toward Watson.

"I don’t appreciate that at all," Sanders said, as reported by apnews.com. "Regardless of competition, we’re all human beings. I think we all need to understand that.

In this room, too, we’re all humans. I don’t do things to humans that I wouldn’t want done to me."

Sanders urged the fan base to show mutual respect to players on the roster.

"For all the fans, we appreciate you showing up, and however you feel about the situation with Deshaun and everything, I think it’s more about a bigger purpose and it’s respect," Sanders said. "It’s a respect thing that I feel should be there, because we’re all out there trying to do our best and serve the franchise the best way possible."

The Cleveland Browns traded three first-round draft picks to acquire Watson from the Houston Texans in March 2022, offering him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Watson served an 11-game NFL suspension in 2022 following off-field allegations of sexual misconduct, paid a $5 million fine, and completed a mandatory treatment program. Injuries and suspensions have limited Watson to 19 games across four seasons in Cleveland, culminating in his season-ending Achilles injury in October 2024. The Browns open their 2026 regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13, 2026.