Todd Monken insisted he won’t be swayed by Deshaun Watson’s emotional response to being booed by the home crowd.
While local and national observers saw Watson’s comments as a potential end to his time with the Browns, Monken defended his quarterback’s mental toughness and passion and said he remains a viable candidate to beat out Shedeur Sanders for the starting job.
Deshaun Watson calls boos from home crowd ‘personal,’ ‘disrespectful’
Monken said he anticipates making the long-awaited quarterback decision Monday, and at least one of his quotes can be interpreted as leaning toward picking Watson to be the Week 1 starter at Jacksonville.
“I’m not going to let one half of football, one frustrating moment dictate what our decision is going to be that we think is in the best interest of the Browns moving forward and especially Week 1,” Monken said Sunday in a Zoom interview.
Watson played poorly against the Bills, going 5-for-12 for 36 yards with an interception. He was booed throughout his quarter-plus in the second half at Huntington Bank Field.
In his postgame news conference, he said the treatment by the fans was “disrespectful” and “personal.” He also brought up the crowd cheering when his Achilles tendon tore Oct. 23, 2024, against the Bengals, which was the last time he played a game at home.
Monken talked to Watson about the comments but wouldn’t divulge the details.
“I think Deshaun spoke from the heart,” he said. “We all want to play well, as a team and individually. There’s no question we were all frustrated.”
Watson was never embraced by the Cleveland fans. He arrived in a 2022 trade while engulfed in a scandal that included more than two dozen accusations of sexual assault and misconduct during massage therapy sessions.
Watson was suspended by the NFL for the first 11 games of his Browns career. He’s also been limited by serious injuries — playing only 19 games over four years — and has been a disappointment when he has played. He missed all of last season with a twice-ruptured Achilles tendon.
Monken said he believes Watson wants to and can still play in Cleveland.
Browns coach Todd Monken on Deshaun Watson’s comments. Said he talked to him but won’t say what was said. pic.twitter.com/JW3oMatG4r
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“I do. I haven’t gotten any of that from him since I’ve been here,” Monken said. “All I’ve seen from him is a player that’s worked awfully hard to get back to where he is now and given himself a chance to compete at the highest level.
“None of us like to be booed. We all like to be appreciated. I think that’s just human. I think he emptied his heart a little bit, and I don’t think that says who he is. I see the competitor. I see the everyday work he puts in, and he wants to get back to where he was as best he can, and that’s hard. I think the moment just got him after the game, and it can get all of us.”
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Watson, who will turn 31 on Sept. 14, got off to a poor start in training camp, including throwing several interceptions. He began playing well in the second week and put together a stretch of solid play, including the preseason opener in Chicago, when he went 11-for-15 for 126 yards.
He has the edge over Sanders in experience and running the operation.
The Browns will play their first two regular-season games in Florida before returning for the home opener in Week 3. Monken said his focus is on the body of work of the two quarterbacks and picking the one who gives the team the best chance to win Week 1.
He said he’s not worried about giving up the homefield advantage by starting Watson on the lakefront.
“I’m not concerned about the first home game,” Monken said. “We’ll get to that when we get to it.
“Ultimately, our job is to put the best product on the field and the best players on the field that we feel like give us the best chance to move the football, score points and win games. So ultimately that’s what I look at irrespective of outside noise. What I worry about is if we don’t play very well, then you got to pivot.”
Browns coach Todd Monken isn’t worried about potential fan reaction to Deshaun Watson in home opener. And more on his comments. pic.twitter.com/bGdPFVrHN8
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) August 23, 2026
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Watson was asked Saturday if he could defeat the negativity he feels in the home stadium.
“I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s a mental battle every day,” he said. “I feel like I get more love on road games than I do home games. So if it is my spot and he does make me the (starter), maybe it’s 17 away games then.”
Monken believes Watson has the mental toughness to handle it.
“I’ve seen it on a daily basis,” Monken said. “I’ve been around him six months. I’ve seen him bounce back. Practice days get better every day that we’ve been out there with our offense. So I know he’s got that in him.
“I see a young man that has confidence and he wanted to perform in the worst way at a high level.”
Monken said the quarterback decision is discussed with ownership and general manager Andrew Berry but “ultimately” it’s his to make.
While Watson had a Saturday to forget, Sanders continued his Year 2 progression. He went 9-for-11 for 74 yards with a touchdown, an interception and 87.1 passer rating.
“He operated a lot more smoothly than he did the first week, like handling cadence,” Monken said. “We had a couple opportunities to draw them offsides, chance for a couple free plays. We got in and out of the huddle more efficiently. His command of the offense has grown by leaps and bounds. So there was a lot there to like.”
