Deshaun Watson admitted his feelings got the greatest of him in regards to speaking back to followers following a preseason recreation over the weekend.
Browns followers booed the newly minted QB1 on Saturday when he entered the third quarter of Cleveland’s 31-7 preseason loss to the Bills.
Watson responded by saying it was “disrespectful” of the followers and on Monday he walked that back, claiming the response was “just human nature.”
“Just myself getting very emotional,” Watson advised reporters after being named the Week 1 starter. “Putting a lot of time in these last two years to get back, spend time at this facility and in the metropolis, assembly a lot of completely different individuals in the group. I thought I was going to get a little completely different response, but I think my feelings got the greatest of me. My feedback wasn’t intending to go at any of the followers around in the metropolis ’cause there has been a lot of nice followers that have been supporting me.
“I know the frustration. This organization has put a lot of investment to get me back in ’22 and things haven’t been going the right direction that we thought it was. A lot of injuries. A lot of time off and not putting the best football and my foot forward.”
The booing didn’t cease when Watson got on the area for the preseason recreation.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks at a press convention after an NFL preseason soccer recreation against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Cleveland. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Fans only continued when his first go was incomplete, and again when the Browns went three-and-out during his second drive on offense.
“I understand the frustration,” he continued. “I perceive everything that type of goes into that. Moving ahead, I just need to focus on soccer, ensuring I’m placing the greatest product out there, have the greatest means because I thrive off the vitality. I thrive off the vitality of the followers. I thrive off the vitality of the group. I thrive off all that stuff. I think wanting back at my historical past at Clemson and earlier at the Houston group, I was a large group man, large metropolis man, large fan man during the video games.
“Again, my feelings got the greatest of me. I’m human. I take full duty of that and you know just shifting ahead I make positive I put [out] the greatest product of the group, for the group and for the metropolis, so we can put [up] a lot of wins and make positive I rejoice and put Cleveland on the map.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, August 22, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I just want to make sure I can give this city something to think about in the first two games and when we come back home, we have something to cheer about and we can celebrate.”
Watson, who missed all of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, was named the Browns beginning quarterback over Shedeur Sanders on Monday by first-year coach Todd Monken, who said he needed to open coaching camp with out a starter in place.
The Browns begin the season on the street, dealing with the Jaguars on Sept. 13 before touring to Tampa in Week 2.
They will host the Panthers on Sept. 27 in Week 3.
Monken indicated he will be sticking with Watson for the foreseeable future, which may imply he will be the quarterback followers see on Huntington Bank Field for their residence opener.
“I think Shedeur has done a great job, come a long ways, and we’re excited about his future. But this is not a week-to-week decision,” the coach said.