BEREA — Deshaun Watson was given the floor Wednesday to say whatever he wanted to Browns fans. The quarterback hasn’t played in front of them since criticizing them Aug. 22 after a preseason game vs. the Bills but will start Sunday in the home opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson was asked if he has a message to fans. pic.twitter.com/PhDaRgcYc0
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 23, 2026
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“The biggest thing, I never try to go at war with the fans,” Watson said. “So I think the biggest thing is just ready for support, ready to feel their energy, ready to get this big dub for the city of Cleveland and continue this great feeling that we have this week.
“So that’s my motto is just keep pushing forward, finding ways to win on Sunday, to take advantage of the opposing team and get the W.”
Blake Whiteheart’s role and confidence continue to grow
How fans will treat Watson at Huntington Bank Field remains to be seen and is a topic that will dominate the week.
Watson’s relationship with Browns fans has been complicated since he arrived in March 2022 in a blockbuster trade. The Browns made the deal, including giving up three first-round draft picks, and gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract despite more than two dozen accusations of sexual assault and misconduct.
His Cleveland career began with an 11-game suspension, missed most of the next three seasons after shoulder and two Achilles surgeries and hasn’t come close to living up to the trade, contract or previous performance with the Texans. That led to cheers when he went down with a ruptured Achilles in October 2024 and boos during the preseason.
He responded by calling the treatment “disrespectful” and “personal,” which only increased the vitriol toward him. Coach Todd Monken still named him the starter for Week 1 and Watson tried to do damage control, but the resentment grew more intense, especially after a 34-10 opening loss to the Jaguars.
Then he saved his starting job and injected life and optimism into the season with a strong outing Sunday in a 23-19 win over the Buccaneers. He went 24-for-30 for 238 yards, two touchdowns, two sacks and a 121.9 passer rating, adding 22 rushing yards.
He was asked if he expects the fans to support him more after a win.
“I don’t know,” he said.
One of the key takeaways from his comments after the Bills game was him saying he “didn’t know” if he could defeat the negativity, calling it a “mental battle every day.” He was asked Wednesday if he’s better prepared to handle any negative reaction.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson said he’s moved past his criticism of fans and saying he didn’t know if he could handle the negativity. pic.twitter.com/DDDuvXhJIt
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 23, 2026
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“I mentioned before, we past that,” he said. “That’s back in the day. I don’t want to backtrack on anything. We’re moving forward.
“There’s great energy now. There’s great energy this week within the locker room, within the city. So let’s continue to build on that. So that’s in the past, so let’s push forward. We’re focusing on Carolina, coming home against a good opponent in front of our great fans, and we wanted that energy so we can go in there and get the W.”
Todd Monken says Deshaun Watson has ‘a lot of football left in him,’ will continue to improve
He said he hasn’t changed his mental preparation for his return home, and Monken said they haven’t discussed it.
“He’s not on his own. We’re all here for him,” Monken said. “What have you done all the work for, man? What have you worked for 22 months to come back? To play and give yourself a chance to play at a high level. It’s really cool. I said: ‘Let it rip. What do you have to fear? You’ve already had a helluva career. Let’s just go down fighting, go back, go down swinging.’”
Monken has championed Watson’s comeback bid since he got the job.
“It’s always been good for someone to be able to support me, to support anybody as a human,” Watson said. “Hearing positive things, it builds confidence, it builds courage, it builds that team chemistry. It makes a person feel good. So when you get that from the head man and the guy that’s leading this organization, this team, that means a lot.”
The matchup with the Panthers will be Monken’s first regular-season game in front of the home crowd.
“Oh, it’s going to be great,” he said. “The greatest fans in all pro sports.
“We’re excited to come back home and make it a hard place for the Panthers to play this weekend.”
He noted he doesn’t “control” the fans or their reaction but knows how to please them.
“Good football, a chance to win, be proud of their team. That’s what everybody wants,” Monken said. “I know this, I’m excited to come back home and play, because I know the most important thing is seeing the Browns win.
“We should expect to make it hard on the Panthers to operate and give ourselves the best chance to win. That’s the saying of home-field advantage.”
Watson’s teammates hope the fans don’t make it hard on Watson.
“It’s the entire team. We want them to back and support the entire team,” cornerback and Northeast Ohio native Denzel Ward said. “This is a team sport and we need everybody, and everybody to play well, and we need the fans to help support us.”
Rookie receiver Denzel Boston will play his first home game after two touchdown catches through two games.
“I just think it’s about us as a team going out there and competing at our highest level,” he said. “The crowd, you want them to influence in the best way for us to go out there and play our best and not be a distraction for us, but be something that can help us on the field.
“And that’s one thing that they can do this weekend is come out, be loud and on third down, get the crowd going and add an extra pressure to the other team that we can’t put on ourselves.”
