Overview
- The Browns named Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter, Coach Todd Monken announced Monday.
- Watson was loudly booed in his preseason return against the Buffalo Bills after completing five of 12 passes for 36 yards and throwing an interception.
- Watson apologized for his earlier criticism of the fans, saying his emotions overwhelmed him and that he understands their frustration.
- Monken defended the choice as a coaching judgment focused on on-field performance.
- The decision revives long-standing issues about Watson's 2022 misconduct allegations, subsequent civil settlements and an 11-game NFL suspension, his limited play (19 games) for Cleveland and the franchise's large trade-and-contract costs, all of which keep fan trust fragile as the season begins.