Todd Monken: We expect Deshaun Watson to play well, or we wouldn't be…

Despite everything that's transpired over the past several years, Deshaun Watson will be the Browns' starting quarterback to open the 2026 season. toffler.lol

Head coach Todd Monken addressed his decision to name Watson as QB1 in his Monday press conference, noting that the club feels Watson gives Cleveland its best chance to win over second-year QB Shedeur Sanders.

"Deshaun is going to start against Jacksonville,” Monken said. “Took in the full body of work over the course of offseason to training camp, to the games, to joint practice. And ultimately felt like, to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points. I mean, that’s what it’s really about. Felt that way going into the last game, but wasn’t sure. And after we talked as a staff, and after we re-looked at everything, we’re going to go that direction.

“[W]e’re not anticipating this being a week-by-week thing,” Monken added. “Again, I think Shedeur has done a great job, come a long ways, and we’re excited about his future. But this is not a week-to-week decision.”

While Watson has been the apparent leader in the clubhouse throughout the offseason, the quarterback’s comments following his poor performance in Saturday’s preseason game may have changed the equation — particularly as Watson railed against fans booing him. But Monken said Watson’s words had no effect on his decision.

“I mean, ultimately, the fans want us to win,” Monken said. “Ultimately, put a good product on the field. That’s really what they want, OK? And so, that’s our job as coaches, why we’re hired, to try to put the best product on the field. And when we don’t, then I understand the frustration. But ultimately, they don’t decide who plays. I mean, who would I be if I let someone outside the building decide who plays?

“I said it yesterday, he bleeds like we bleed — 22 months of working to get back, giving himself another opportunity for the Browns, OK? So that, I respect. And, sure, was he hurt? Yes. But I also said yesterday, OK, I don’t like being boo’d either. I don’t like when we jump offside three times at the end of the game. But we earn that. We earn our respect by how we play. We earn our fans, in terms of appreciation, by the product we put on the field. And that’s our job. So, on one side, I 100 percent understand where Deshaun is coming from. But, ultimately, we’re pros. We’ve got to put on a good product. And we’ve got to play. You’ve got to pull your big boy pants up and let’s go play.”

Monken noted he did speak with Watson about those postgame comments.

“I’ll keep most of what we talked about private,” Monken said. “But the conversation was, the way we make this go away is to play good football. We’ve got to own that. If you think I asked him, hey do you feel like you got that off your chest? Because you’ve got to feel like you got that off your chest. And now what do we do? Let’s move forward and work our rear end off at playing winning football. That’s it. And you guys will get a chance to talk to him. And, again, it was in the moment. We all have those moments. And we’re going to see moving forward.

“I have gotten no indication over the six months I’ve been here that he doesn't have the ability to bounce back as a player, and compete his rear end off. I have no indication of that.”

Though Monken emphasized throughout his press conference that he wanted Watson to start in part because the Browns are on the road, he noted he doesn’t anticipate having to change QBs anytime soon. But that is also dependent in part on performance.

“Every single week, we have to prove it. That’s what we do,” Monken said. “As pros, we have to prove it every week — it doesn’t matter what position.

“Ultimately, we expect him to play well, or we wouldn’t be starting him.”