Deshaun Watson said Cleveland fans' boos during his first home appearance since tearing his Achilles were "disrespectful" and "personal," not a reaction to his play.
Saturday's return went poorly: Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards with an interception as the Browns lost 31-7 to the Bills.
Watson pointed to fans cheering when he was injured in 2024 as proof the hostility goes beyond performance, rejecting coach Todd Monken's view that winning would smooth things over.
The backlash hangs over Cleveland's quarterback decision as well — Monken did not name a Week 1 starter, and Watson has struggled in 19 starts since signing a fully guaranteed $230 million deal in 2022.