Watson Deflects Job-Security Talk After Blowout Loss — SkimNews
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- Deshaun Watson told reporters Wednesday his focus is on getting a Week 2 win, not job security or fan reception ahead of Cleveland's home opener in Week 3
- Watson pushed back on outside expectations, saying "all that is for the media" and that he's not supposed to throw for "400 yards and five touchdowns every week"
- Coach Todd Monken confirmed Monday that Watson will start Sunday at Tampa Bay after reviewing film from the loss, calling the decision straightforward
- Watson went 16-of-22 for 205 yards with one touchdown, one interception, and 38 rushing yards in the 34-10 Week 1 loss at Jacksonville
- The Browns trailed Jacksonville 24-0 at halftime, tying their worst halftime shutout in the past 35 years, according to ESPN Research
- Watson has played just 20 games since his March 2022 trade to Cleveland and has never thrown for 300 yards in a game as a Brown
- Monken named Watson the starter Aug. 24 over Shedeur Sanders after a training camp competition — two days after Watson called Browns fans who booed him "disrespectful"
Why it matters: Watson's hold on the starting job despite a 24-point halftime deficit and zero career 300-yard games as a Brown signals Cleveland is betting on continuity through rough early play; a second straight loss in Tampa would make Monken's defense of his quarterback and the coach's own "we didn't coach well enough" mea culpa harder to sustain heading into a Week 3 home opener.
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