Deshaun Watson May Have Just Gifted Shedeur Sanders The Browns’ Starting Job After This Throw [VIDEO]
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Deshaun Watson took the field Saturday, hoping to make his case as the Browns’ starting quarterback. The reaction from fans suggests he moved further away from that job instead.
Cleveland hosted Buffalo in preseason Week 2, and Watson opened the game with the first-team offense. He’d flashed some promise in his season debut the week before against Chicago. Home fans wanted to see him build on it.
Instead, the boos started early and never really stopped.
Watson Struggled Through Multiple Rough Sequences
X user “Reflpg18” captured one particularly ugly moment. Watson fired a pass into the ground on a throw that never had a real chance. To his credit, his hand may have taken a hit on the play.
Check him out right below:
“He looks awful. Definitely not gonna be the starter,” one fan wrote. “I don’t even like Sanders as the starter either. We’re screwed!”
He looks awful. Definitely not gonna be the starter. I don’t even like Sanders as the starter either. We’re screwed!
— JKov2011 (@jas91652) August 22, 2026
Another pointed out a double standard in how fans treat each quarterback’s mistakes.
“Everyone criticizing Sanders’ INT that wasn’t his fault, but not saying anything about Watson,” they wrote. “S**t is wild, work.”
Yea he def not gonna start 😭😭😭 look how everyone criticizing sanders INT that wasn’t his fault but not saying anything bout Watson shit is wild work
— 🌗 T The Chosen 🌓 (@_CudiBetter_) August 22, 2026
A third fan wrote, “Hahahahah right before his overthrown interception. Sanders for the win.”
Hahahahah right before his overthrown interception. Sanders for the win
— Enough Already (@gidget999999) August 22, 2026
Another user wanted to know “How does Andrew Barry still have a job…“
How does Andrew Barry still have a job…
— Daniel George (@OH22FL) August 22, 2026
The struggles piled up from there. Watson threw an interception to Bills defensive back Te’Cory Couch. He finished his opening three drives just 3-of-8 for 24 yards.
Fans in the stands booed him every time he jogged onto the field. Notably, nobody booed when Shedeur Sanders took over the offense in the first half.
Watson’s Return Follows A Long Injury Layoff
Watson’s outing against the Bears the week before had marked his first game action since tearing his Achilles in October 2024, an injury he re-aggravated shortly after the original tear. Saturday against Buffalo was his first appearance back home in Cleveland since the injury. The preseason presents his real chance to prove he can still handle the starting job he signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract to fill.
That contract has made him one of the most scrutinized players in the league, and his early training camp numbers only deepened the concern heading into preseason play. Sanders, meanwhile, has quietly built his own case. He’s stayed professional throughout the competition, even as fans openly root for him over the veteran.
Head coach Todd Monken hasn’t named a starter yet, and Cleveland’s plan all preseason has been to give both quarterbacks similar opportunities before making a final call.
Saturday’s performance didn’t do much to change Watson’s outlook, but the decision ultimately belongs to Monken, not the fans booing from the stands.
