Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson stated Wednesday that he is not concerned about his job security, despite a challenging season opener last Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Watson, who started his first game in nearly two years, also expressed little concern about changing public perception or facing a potentially hostile home crowd in two weeks.
His performance in Jacksonville, a 34-10 loss where he threw a "tone-setting interception" on the Browns' first drive, did not immediately alter the prevailing narrative surrounding the quarterback. Watson finished the game 16 of 22 for 205 yards and a touchdown, with many of those statistics accumulated in the second half after the Jaguars built a significant 24-0 halftime lead. Despite this, Watson insisted Wednesday that he does not feel pressure to perform exceptionally well in the upcoming game at Tampa Bay to retain his starting position. He commented, "Personally, I think all that is for the media," adding, "My job is to make sure I’m operating well so we can try to get a win and keep moving forward from there." Watson has played 20 games across four turbulent seasons with the Browns.
First-year coach Todd Monken selected Watson as the starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders this summer. Monken's initial public remarks following the Jacksonville game were described as a "lukewarm endorsement," sparking speculation about a potential quarterback change. However, Monken decided to maintain Watson as the starter, granting him at least another opportunity. Monken has consistently supported Watson publicly and believes he will improve, stating, "I always expect our players to play well. I wouldn’t put them out there if I didn’t. So, I expect him to play really well." He acknowledged that while there were moments Watson played well, there were also times when the offense, coaching, and playing faltered.
The Browns' offense struggled to find any rhythm during the opener. The team incurred multiple penalties, including two for delay of game. A particularly problematic three-snap sequence in the first half saw the team flagged for a false start, another delay, and a neutral zone infraction, effectively ending a scoring opportunity. While these issues are not entirely Watson's fault, the quarterback often faces scrutiny when offensive operations are not smooth. Watson, who split first-team repetitions with Sanders during training camp, recognized the need to address these self-inflicted errors. He explained, "We just got to get in and out of the huddle," noting challenges with hearing play calls, getting set, and reading defenses amidst crowd noise.
Monken accepted some responsibility for the team's sloppiness, describing the operational issues as "Below the line." He conveyed encouragement this week from a noticeable sense of ownership among his players and staff, expressing confidence that the team is capable of better collective and individual play.
The upcoming Week 2 matchup presents Watson with an opportunity to alleviate some pressure on Monken. He will face Baker Mayfield, the quarterback Watson replaced in Cleveland, who is likely motivated by "revenge." Should Watson continue to struggle, Monken might be compelled to bench him in favor of Sanders, who showed promise in seven starts as a rookie last season and remains popular. The last time Watson played a home game, he was booed during a preseason contest and subsequently called the fans' reaction "disrespectful." Monken anticipates an improved performance from Watson in his second start. He reflected on the first game, saying, "he hadn’t played in 22 months and he finally got the first team reps for like two weeks. There’s enough there to say, “I expect to play better. I expect to coach better. I expect our team to play better around him." Monken concluded, "I’ve got our players’ backs, and he happens to be one of those guys that we expect to play well."