The Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback over second-year QB Shedeur Sanders.
Watson, 30, will start in week 1 of the regular season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13.
Sanders, 24, served as backup quarterback for the first 9 games in his rookie season last year. He made his debut as starting quarterback in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Sanders finished the season with a 3–4 record in seven starts.
Brown’s coach Todd Monken announced the decision on Monday, after fans booed Watson during the second preseason game on Saturday.
Watson brushed off the boos, saying, “I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about [my] performance. It’s a little bit [more] personal than that. So I think it’s a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on.”
Fans on X.com expressed outrage over their fave, Sanders, being passed over for the veteran quarterback.
@Birdshu wrote: “I’m more certain than ever that Deshaun Watson having executive power is the reason Myles Garrett asked to be traded. Deshaun got a billionaire to bow down. Yet Shedeur made them feel small.”
She added: “Dammit man! I better not catch Deshaun Watson in the street. Or Jimmy Haslam for making a deal with the devil.”
Deshaun Watson is evil. Jimmy Haslam obviously gave him the executive power that the Texans refused. Boo him even louder. Boo him at the grocery store. He's holding the Cleveland Browns hostage. I hope he gets a season ending injury in practice this week.
— Bird (@Birdshu) August 24, 2026
Question: Did the Browns make the right decision? Respond in the comments below.