Deshaun Watson Won’t Start for Browns All Season: Here’s Why

Just because Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was named the Week 1 starter doesn't mean he'll start the full season.

Aug 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up before the game between the Browns and the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cleveland Browns fans are rightfully outraged after reports circulated that Deshaun Watson will be the team’s starting quarterback this season.

Watson melted down against third and fourth stringers during the third quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. He completed just 5-of-12 passes and had a QBR of 14.6. After that performance, he blasted Cleveland’s loyal fanbase for booing him, stating it was personal and disrespectful. After that performance and those remarks, some doubted Watson would ever be able to show his face in Berea ever again. 

But he somehow beat out Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland’s weighted quarterback competition and will start Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Why Watson won’t start all season for the Browns

If we’re being honest, Watson gets this nod for a number of reasons, none of which are new. He’s a veteran, and 60-year-old head coach Todd Monken probably likes that. He’s owed $46 million, and the team stands to make sure there’s no juice to be squeezed out of their “swing and a miss” trade in 2022.

There’s nothing to gain from playing Watson, but Shedeur Sanders is still developing and the Browns are likely planning to draft a quarterback in April’s 2027 draft.

But the leash on Watson will be remarkably short – at least it should be.

The player that sank the franchise has only played in 19 games since that disastrous trade in 2022. He’s broken his shoulder and ruptured his Achilles tendon twice, on top of the 11-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from over two dozen accusations of sexual misconduct. 

Browns fans and Watson have never clicked. And that’s part of the reason why this experiment could be over by Week 3, Cleveland’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers.

The Browns are hoping Watson plays well in Florida and the Browns start 2-0 against the Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, nobody would boo their undefeated team ahead of their home opener, right?

Well, if the Browns go 0-2 – or even 1-1 – and Watson looks as shaky as he has during training camp, we’re in for quite the scene at Huntington Bank Field in Week 3. That’s unless the Browns hook Watson in favor of Sanders, which is a real possibility if the season starts poorly.

This also feels like one of those years where the Browns could need everybody. Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are both on this roster, and maybe the Browns embrace carrying four quarterbacks this season.

Gabriel has been dreadful in limited opportunities, struggling to move the ball downfield. But Green impressed during Cleveland’s joint practices against the Bills on Thursday, and will make his preseason debut in Cleveland’s finale against the New England Patriots.

Just because Watson started the season doesn’t mean he’ll end the season. And the end of the season will likely result in the Browns preparing to make a very important decision in the 2027 NFL Draft.