Deshaun Watson Calls Browns Fans' Boos Disrespectful After Bills Loss

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson criticized the reception he received from home fans after being booed during Saturday's 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Guardian, reporting with agency material, said Watson described the reaction as disrespectful and personal after a difficult second-half appearance.

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Watson replaced Shedeur Sanders during the game and completed five of 12 passes for 36 yards, with one interception. The performance came as Watson and Sanders compete for Cleveland's starting job. Head coach Todd Monken had not named a starter for the Browns' season opener at Jacksonville on September 13, according to the report.

The quarterback said he did not believe the crowd's response was only about his play against Buffalo. He connected it to his previous home appearance in October 2024, when he tore his Achilles tendon and some spectators cheered as he was injured. Saturday marked his first game at Cleveland's stadium since that injury.

Watson also questioned whether he could repair his relationship with Browns supporters. He said his interactions in public differ from the hostility he encounters online and inside the stadium, and added that he feels he receives more support during road games. He nevertheless indicated that he would continue dealing with the situation privately with his family.

The strained relationship follows four disrupted seasons since Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022 in a trade package that included three first-round draft picks. The Browns then gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Watson has not completed a full season for Cleveland because of injuries and suspension, and has recorded 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions across those four seasons, The Guardian reported.

Watson was suspended for 11 games by the NFL in 2022 following the league's investigation into sexual assault allegations made by numerous women. He was not criminally charged. Cleveland has reached the postseason once since the trade, losing that game while Watson was sidelined by injury, and Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged last year that the team's decision to acquire him had been a major failure.