Chad Ochocinco warns Browns' Deshaun Watson has 'very short' leash, could lose starting job by Week 3
Cleveland Browns Pick Deshaun Watson as Week‑1 Starter, Fans Still Confused
Cleveland, March 2026 – The Cleveland Browns’ first‑year head coach, Todd Monken, announced that veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson will start the 2026 NFL season’s opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The decision comes after a season of speculation about whether the 31‑year‑old, who was traded from the Houston Texans for a $230‑million, fully guaranteed contract, will begin the year behind younger competitor Shedeur Sanders.
Watson, who is returning to the field for the first regular‑season action since tearing his Achilles tendon in 2024, will face the Jaguars on Sunday at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium. If the Browns lose their first two games – the Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Monken said he could consider a mid‑season shift to a different starter.
“We’re looking for results,” Monken said in a brief statement. “Deshaun has the experience and the contract that reflects his role, but the team’s performance will dictate any changes.”
The quarterback decision has reignited the debate among fans and analysts. Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has been a mixed bag. In three seasons, he has started 19 games, posting a 9‑10 record, a 1‑6 finish in 2024, 19 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, 3,365 yards and a passer rating of 80.7. Those numbers contrast sharply with his four years in Houston, where he earned three Pro Bowls and led the NFL in passing yards in 2020 (4,823 yards, a 104.5 rating).
In a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Watson was booed by the home crowd. He responded, calling the fans “disrespectful” and “personal.” After the game, he later said, “Emotions got the best of me.”
Former NFL wide‑receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, who has been outspoken about the Browns’ quarterback situation on his “Nightcap” podcast with Shannon Sharpe, said the decision was clear from the start. “It was never a quarterback competition,” Johnson told OutKick. “As an owner and person writing the check, Deshaun Watson was always going to be the starting quarterback no matter what.”
Johnson also warned that the team will need early wins to win over a fan base that has been skeptical of Watson’s performance. “Winning cures all,” he said. “If we open the season 1‑1 or 2‑0, the fans will start cheering him again.”
The Browns’ depth chart also includes Shedeur Sanders, a rookie from the University of Alabama, and Dillon Gabriel, but the coaching staff has not indicated a plan to rotate the position in the near term.
Fans who attended the preseason opener against the Bills have voiced frustration. “They haven’t given us anything to cheer for,” Johnson said. “You’ve given them nothing to cheer for.”
Beyond the gridiron, the season is drawing attention from the business side of football. DraftKings has partnered with the NFL to launch “DraftKings Gameday” on September 2, coinciding with the first day of regular‑season play. The promotion will offer free gasoline at selected stations in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta and Detroit to celebrate the return of football across the country. “We’re giving people free gas so they can get to the game,” Johnson told the media. “It’s a fan‑experience thing.”
The Browns’ fan support will be tested as the team starts against the Jaguars, followed by the Buccaneers and, in Week 3, a home game against the Carolina Panthers. Whether Watson’s veteran leadership can translate into early victories remains to be seen.
For now, the decision is clear: Deshaun Watson will be the Browns’ starting quarterback on opening night, and the season will begin with a look at how the franchise balances a high‑paying veteran with a youthful roster and the hopes of a passionate fan base.