Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken announced Monday that he anticipates Deshaun Watson will remain the starting quarterback for Sunday’s Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite a 34-10 opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Cleveland Browns are keeping their quarterback plans intact for now, as coach Todd Monken announced that Deshaun Watson will start in Week 2. The decision arrives in the wake of a difficult 34-10 season-opening blowout against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a performance that immediately stoked fan frustration and media questions about the depth chart.
Monken defended the choice by pointing to film review rather than just the final scoreboard. While the offense sputtered badly through the first three quarters in Jacksonville—stalling out behind an early interception and five sacks—the coaching staff saw enough functional execution under pressure to stick with the veteran quarterback for another week. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Monken “anticipatesWatson starting in Week 2, noting that there
were some really good things on film.” According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Monken stated during his Monday press conference with reporters that he “anticipates” Watson will start against the Buccaneers this week. Similarly, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Watson is anticipated to be the starting quarterback for Week 2 according to head coach Todd Monken.
Film Review Fails to Sway Doubters After Jacksonville Blowout
Sunday’s opener at EverBank Stadium offered very little offensive rhythm until the game was out of reach. Watson finished 16-of-22 passing for 205 yards, throwing a late 46-yard touchdown pass to rookie Denzel Boston with 1:52 remaining. He also threw an interception on the opening series, lost a fumble, and absorbed five sacks as Jacksonville raced to a 24-0 halftime lead. According to Fox News, the Associated Press photo credited Mike Stewart capturing Deshaun Watson throwing before the game on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville.
“I’m not getting rid of all our players… He happens to be one of 53. We’ll evaluate everything. To just say emotionally here at the end — we just didn’t play good enough. We didn’t coach well enough.”
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns head coach, via Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald
By Monday, Monken confirmed that a closer look at the game tape reaffirmed his stance. Monken said his lean toward sticking with Watson was confirmed upon review, noting that the quarterback did not play tentatively despite the disastrous start, and adding per Fox News, It's only been two weeks he's gotten all the reps,
referring to the training camp quarterback competition.
Contract Realities and the Shadow of Shedeur Sanders
The decision to start Watson carries heavy organizational baggage. Watson is playing in the final year of a fully guaranteed $230 million contract that Cleveland secured via a 2022 trade with Houston, giving up three first-round picks in the process. Since that blockbuster deal, injuries and an 11-game personal conduct suspension have limited him to just 20 games with the franchise.
He won a tight preseason training camp competition over Shedeur Sanders—named the starter on August 24—though neither passer definitively seized the job during August. Benching the winner of that competition after a single week would create an abrupt about-face for a new coaching staff. At the same time, Sanders waits on the sidelines, keeping a ready alternative in place if the offense fails to find its footing.
A High-Stakes Reunion Against Baker Mayfield
Next up for Cleveland is a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting the stage for an uncomfortable storyline.
Mayfield recently signed a three-year extension with Tampa Bay and will play against Watson for the first time since the trade, having previously quarterbacked Carolina against Cleveland in the 2022 season opener while Watson served his 11-game personal conduct suspension.
Читайте также
