Deshaun Watson's Poor Week 1 Start Draws Benching Speculation
Deshaun Watson threw an interception on his third pass attempt in Cleveland's Week 1 game at Jacksonville — his first regular-season action since Week 7 of 2024.
- Jacksonville linebacker Foyesade Oluokun intercepted Watson on the Browns' fifth play from scrimmage.
- $230 million guaranteed was Cleveland's price for Watson following a 2022 trade.
- Watson has played 20 games for Cleveland since 2022; the Browns are 9-10 in those starts.
- $86.2 million dead cap hit hits the Browns in 2027 when the contract's void years kick in.
Why it matters: Watson's contract makes him nearly impossible to move. He earns $46 million this season whether he plays or not, and if he remains on the roster past March 13 next year, the Browns owe him another $200 million.
- Cleveland surrendered three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to acquire Watson from Houston.
- Watson missed his first 11 Browns games to serve an NFL suspension after more than two dozen women accused him of inappropriate conduct during massage sessions; Watson denied the allegations and faced no criminal charges.
How 12 sources split on this story
Where they split: The central dispute is whether starting Watson over Shedeur Sanders reflects sound football judgment or an attempt to justify a sunk cost.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center focuses on the on-field facts — the interception, the contract details, the win-loss record — and frames Watson's return as a high-stakes audition with no clear upside.
USA Today6hTodd Monken says it's 'unfair' to put Browns struggles on Deshaun Watson
Heavy3hBrowns Warned Against Benching Deshaun Watson
Newsweek3hBrowns fans hurl obscenities at Deshaun Watson after disastrous Jaguars game
ESPN4hMonken noncommittal on Watson, calls it 'unfair' to blame loss on QBKSAKSAT 12 San Antonio8hTrevor Lawrence throws 4 TD passes as the Jaguars rout the Browns 34-10 in season openerPenPennLive3hTodd Monken’s response to one Deshaun Watson question speaks volumes
Reuters7hDeshaun Watson done after Week 1 disaster? Browns to 'watch the tape'Left coverage, 2 sources: The left frames the Watson signing as a moral failure compounded by football incompetence, arguing Cleveland made a deliberately amoral choice that produced predictable ruin — and that Baker Mayfield's success in Tampa underscores what the franchise gave away.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right splits between cataloguing fan and social-media ridicule of the interception and, separately, treating the veteran-over-rookie decision as defensible given Watson's experience and the size of the investment.
Daily Mail10hNFL fans rip scandalized QB Deshaun Watson as he throws awful interception on his FIRST drive after being named starter for Browns
Fox News10hDeshaun Watson throws interception five snaps into 2026 season as Browns get off to rough start
New York Post6hTodd Monken noncommittal on Deshaun Watson after Browns' Week 1 nightmareWhat’s next: Sanders posted a 3-4 record in seven 2025 starts, throwing for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
- If Watson continues to struggle, Sanders and Taylen Green are available at backup quarterback.
- How quickly will coach Todd Monken turn to Sanders if Watson's play does not improve?
- Can Watson sustain health through a full season after two Achilles surgeries?