Browns Reassess $230 Million Watson's Starting Role After 34-10 Jaguars Loss
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 13
Browns Reassess $230 Million Watson's Starting Role After 34-10 Jaguars Loss
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 13
Summary
34-10 against Jacksonville, Cleveland left Deshaun Watson's Week 2 status uncertain after coach Todd Monken said he would "evaluate everything" before naming a starter against Tampa Bay.
205 passing yards and a 73% completion rate did not offset Watson's turnover and protection problems — he threw an interception, lost a fumble and took five sacks in his first game since October 2024.
Monken defended Watson after his head-coaching debut, saying the offense failed collectively and that his own play-calling and the play around the quarterback were also not good enough.
The scrutiny is sharper because Watson, whose contract is worth $230 million, beat out Shedeur Sanders for the job this offseason and now faces immediate questions after one lopsided opener.