Deshaun Watson addresses his dig at Browns fans after being named starting QB

Deshaun Watson admitted his emotions got the best of him in regards to talking back to fans following a preseason game over the weekend.

Browns fans 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 fans and on Monday he walked that back, claiming the reaction was “just human nature.”

“Just myself getting very emotional,” Watson told 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 city, meeting a lot of different people in the community. I thought I was going to get a little different response, but I think my emotions got the best of me. My comments wasn’t intending to go at any of the fans around in the city ’cause there has been a lot of great fans 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 stop when Watson got on the field for the preseason game.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks at a press conference after an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Cleveland. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Fans only continued when his first pass was incomplete, and again when the Browns went three-and-out during his second drive on offense.

“I understand the frustration,” he continued. “I understand everything that kind of goes into that. Moving forward, I just want to focus on football, making sure I’m putting the best product out there, have the best ability because I thrive off the energy. I thrive off the energy of the fans. I thrive off the energy of the community. I thrive off all that stuff. I think looking back at my history at Clemson and previous at the Houston organization, I was a big community guy, big city guy, big fan guy during the games.

“Again, my emotions got the best of me. I’m human. I take full responsibility of that and you know just moving forward I make sure I put [out] the best product of the team, for the organization and for the city, so we can put [up] a lot of wins and make sure I celebrate 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 starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders on Monday by first-year coach Todd Monken, who said he wanted to open training camp without a starter in place.

The Browns start the season on the road, facing the Jaguars on Sept. 13 before traveling 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 mean he will be the quarterback fans see on Huntington Bank Field for their home 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.