Browns Coach Todd Monken Warns Rivals to 'Get Us Now' After Jaguars Rout

Q: After a 693-day layoff and a brutal Week 1 loss, is Deshaun Watson's starting job already in jeopardy?

Not yet, but the pressure is immediate and real. Todd Monken’s public stance points to Deshaun Watson keeping the job for Week 2. After reviewing the film, Monken said he “anticipates” Watson will start against Tampa Bay and argued the opener was a team failure, not a quarterback-only collapse. He cited breakdowns in coaching, communication, substitutions, pre-snap operation and pass protection, all of which contributed to Cleveland’s 34-10 loss. That context matters. Watson was poor early in his first regular-season start in 693 days, throwing an opening-drive interception as the Browns fell behind 24-0 by halftime. He finished 16 of 22 for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception, added 38 rushing yards, and was sacked five times. Cleveland also committed 11 penalties overall, including multiple offensive delay-of-game and operational mistakes, and managed only five first downs in the first half. Still, the job does not look secure beyond the short term. Monken initially said he would “evaluate everything,” and his defense of Watson was measured rather than emphatic. Cleveland already faced scrutiny for choosing Watson over younger options, and another ineffective outing would intensify calls for change, especially with a home opener looming in Week 3 and fan frustration already high. So Watson’s starting role is not in danger this week, but it is clearly under review. If the offense looks disorganized again in Tampa Bay, the Browns’ patience could shrink quickly.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 15

Todd Monken used his postgame opening statement to tell the rest of the NFL, "You better get us now," after Cleveland was thoroughly beaten by Jacksonville.
That warning came after a game in which the Browns showed only brief offensive life before collapsing on both sides of the ball, turning the Jaguars loss into an embarrassing setback.
Deshaun Watson drew the sharpest criticism, with the report portraying the quarterback as a central reason Cleveland's offense cannot function and as a drag on the roster's more promising pieces.
The loss raises pressure on Monken to stabilize the team quickly, with the report warning that more performances like this could threaten both locker-room cohesion and his longer-term standing.