Cleveland Browns Name Deshaun Watson Starting QB for 2026 Season Opener

The Cleveland Browns have officially named Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, sources told ESPN and NFL Network on August 24, 2026.

Watson, 30, won the starting job in a competition against second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders that stretched from offseason workouts through the first two preseason games.

Despite a poor performance in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills—completing 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards with one interception—Watson was chosen to lead the Browns in Week 1 on the road.

Watson faced boos from the home crowd during that game, a reaction he labeled "disrespectful," referencing how fans cheered when he tore his Achilles tendon at Huntington Bank Field in October 2024.

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

Head coach Todd Monken said Watson's emotional response to the boos would not affect his decision, emphasizing the quarterback's competitive spirit and dedication to returning to form.

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

Watson has struggled with injuries and suspensions since joining the Browns in 2022, appearing in only 19 games due to a torn Achilles and shoulder surgery. His 33.1 Total QBR ranks last among quarterbacks with enough starts since his debut in Cleveland.

Watson's last two seasons as the starter ended prematurely due to injury, including a season-ending right shoulder fracture in 2023 and the Achilles injury in 2024.

Shedeur Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, was the starter for the second preseason game and showed some promise, completing 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Monken praised Sanders' confidence and improvement but ultimately decided Watson offers the Browns the best chance to win in Week 1, with the first two games being on the road at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay before returning home in Week 3 against Carolina.

"I'm not concerned about the first home game," Monken said. "I'm concerned about who gives us the best chance to win first week."

Watson's contract, a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal signed in 2022, enters its final year in 2026. Despite the mixed reception from fans and injury history, the Browns remain committed to him as their starter.

The Browns also have Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green competing for backup roles, with Gabriel likely to remain on the roster given Watson and Sanders' positions.