Browns Remain Massive Underdogs in Week 1 vs. Jaguars After Naming Deshaun Watson Starter

The Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland isn't over just yet.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Browns have named Watson as their starting quarterback ahead of Week 3 of the preseason, setting him up to start in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, barring injury. Watson had been in a quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders in training camp.

Just in: Deshaun Watson has been named Cleveland’s starting quarterback for week 1 at Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/34BNUahkXs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2026

The move to name Watson as the starting quarterback is an interesting one, as he has struggled during his time in Cleveland and is coming off an Achilles injury that cost him the entire 2025 season.

Oddsmakers clearly aren't sold on Watson improving the Browns' chances this year, as DraftKings Sportsbook has Cleveland set as a 7.5-point road underdog in Week 1. In the futures market, the Browns are tied with the New York Jets for the third-worst Super Bowl odds, and they are +570 to make the playoffs in 2026.

So, it's pretty clear that with Watson at the helm, the Browns are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. That would likely be the case no matter who is under center in 2026, as the Browns moved on from Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in the offseason, signaling yet another season where they're planning to rebuild.

Watson did not look great the last time he competed in the regular season, leading the Browns to a 1-6 record in seven starts in the 2024 season. He's completed just 61.2 percent of his passes as a member of the Browns with a shaky 19-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

A three-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans, Watson has not been the same player since legal trouble caused him to miss the 2021 campaign. He was then traded to the Browns and agreed to a fully-guaranteed $230 million deal. Now, the Browns are making one last-ditch effort to get some value out of the contract.

In the 2026 preseason, Watson has been up and down. He started the preseason pretty well against the Chicago Bears, completing 11 of his 15 pass attempts for 126 yards before struggling against Buffalo in Week 2. Watson completed just five of his 12 passes in that game for 36 yards and an interception.

The Cleveland offense has been stuck in mud in the preseason, scoring 17 total points across two games. No wonder oddsmakers have this team in the basement in the AFC North in all of the preseason projections.

Given his recent struggles and health issues, Watson is far from a lock to start for Cleveland for the entire 2026 season. But, he'll be out there in Week 1 with the Browns getting more than a touchdown against the defending AFC South champion Jaguars.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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