The Cleveland Browns opened up the 2026 regular season with Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback. Watson delivered a rough performance in Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, throwing an early interception and losing a fumble as the Browns were blown out 34-10. Watson finished the game with 205 passing yards, one touchdowns and one interception on 16/22 passing.
He also led the Browns in rushing with just 38 yards on the ground. The Browns' decision to start Watson over Shedeur Sanders sparked some serious outrage among the fanbase. But even after this lackluster season opener, the team is sticking with Watson as QB1 moving forward.
Cleveland head coach Todd Monken confirmed that Watson will start in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I confirmed it when I looked at the tape," Monken said. "We've got to play better around him.
We've got to call it better, and he's got to play better. Our inability to function consistently as an offense was a byproduct of coaching and playing." Watson's interception came on the Browns' first offensive drive of the season. And then we couldn’t get a first down to get our defense off the field.
That is a recipe to get run out of the arena.” The Browns will kick off against the Buccaneers at 1 p.m.
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