Deshaun Watson issues defiant statement as Browns pressure mounts

Deshaun Watson isn’t listening to the critics after his shaky 2026 debut. 

The Browns quarterback had a defiant response to questions about his job security and Week 1 performance on Wednesday. 

“Personally, I think all that is for the media,” Watson said. “I think the media has this expectation that I’m supposed to throw 400 yards and five touchdowns every week. Until that happens, I guess it’s going to be the same situation. My job is to make sure I’m playing well so that we can try to get a win and keep moving forward from there.”

Watson, playing in his first game since October 2024, was dreadful before garbage time during Cleveland’s ugly 34-10 loss to the Jaguars, completing just 11 passes for 100 yards and with an interception before throwing for a touchdown in the final quarter. 

The embattled quarterback won the starting job over second-year signal-callers Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel during training camp, but his season-opening showing had fans and pundits calling for him to be replaced after just one week. 

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (6) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Browns head coach Todd Monken shut down that notion a day after the blowout loss.

“I anticipate Deshaun will be our starter,” Monken said on Monday.

“We got to play better around him, we got to call it better, and he’s got to play better,” he continued. “It wasn’t just our inability to function consistently as an offense was a byproduct of ‘we’ coaching and playing.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up before an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Last month, Watson ripped “disrespectful” Browns fans for booing him during a preseason game in Cleveland before later apologizing for his comments. 

The Browns take on the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday before their home opener against the Panthers in Week 3.