Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Joe Reedy The Associated Press
This article discusses the anticipated fan reaction towards quarterback Deshaun Watson during the Cleveland Browns' home game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Fans are expected to boo Watson due to his controversial off-field issues, despite his performance last week where he threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Tampa Bay. The article also covers team dynamics and statistics, including the Browns’ struggles with their running game and the Panthers' strong passing attack led by quarterback Bryce Young, who is second in total touchdowns and passing yards this season.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Deshaun Watson, the embattled quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, faced potential boos from fans during Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. However, after passing for 238 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Watson helped quiet some of the criticism temporarily. Despite this performance, many Cleveland fans remain critical of the team's decision to trade for him in 2022, viewing it as one of the worst trades in NFL history. In Sunday's game at home, Watson's play turned around fan sentiment, with chants of "Let's go Watson" heard throughout the stadium. This shift came after a stunning upset win against the favored Panthers, demonstrating that good on-field performance can quickly change public opinion. Coach Todd Monken emphasized that consistent positive football is key to winning back fan support, as the Browns have not been 2-1 since 2023.
Written for “Watson Browns Debut Reception” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The biggest question going into Sunday’s game between the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns may not be about the on-field matchups.
uncertain
question → go → matchups
It’s probably about the reception embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson will get from fans in Cleveland’s first regular-season home game.
asserted
Watson → ’ → game
Watson passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday’s 23-19 win at Tampa Bay to temporarily silence calls for replacing him with Shedeur Sanders.
asserted
Watson → pass → Sanders
That probably will not be enough to quiet the boos from the Dawg Pound and other sections of the stadium where some fans see the Browns’ 2022 trade for Watson as one of the worst in NFL history.
asserted
fans → quiet → history
Browns coach Todd Monken said again this week that one way for Watson to get fans back on his side is to play well.
asserted
Watson → say → side
“What does every fan want?
asserted
fan → want → What
I mean, that’s what everybody wants.
asserted
everybody → mean → what
I’m excited to come back home and play, because I know the most important thing is seeing the Browns win,” Monken said.
asserted
Monken → ’m → ?
Watson, whose 76.9% completion rate is second in the NFL, said he didn’t know if he would get more support after getting the Browns to 1-1.
asserted
he → say → 1
“He balled (last week).
asserted
He → ball → ?
People will say what they want about him, but when he puts that helmet on he comes ready to play.
asserted
he → say → helmet
So we have to be ready.
asserted
we → have → ?
He can make every throw.
asserted
He → make → throw
He’s ready to lead those guys to a victory, so we have to show up,” Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson said.
asserted
Jackson → ’ → victory
The Browns are hoping to get their run game going after averaging only 65.5 yards over the first two games.
asserted
game → hop → games
The Panthers, meanwhile, allowed 291 yards on the ground in their Week 1 loss to Chicago but only 68 last week in their 34-3 victory at Atlanta.
asserted
Panthers → allow → Atlanta
Carolina, looking to go 2-1 for the first time since 2021, comes into the game with one of the league’s top passing attacks.
asserted
Carolina → look → attacks
He also leads the league with nine completions of at least 25 yards.
asserted
He → lead → yards
Young is also looking to become the fourth player with at least 275 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100 or higher in each of the first three games.
asserted
Young → look → games
Cleveland hasn’t allowed a 300-yard passer in its last 47 games.
asserted
Cleveland → allow → games
“I think it is just trusting each other and execution.
asserted
it → think → other
(Past success) doesn’t entitle you to anything.
asserted
success → entitle → anything
It’s 0-0 when we start, so we have to flush it.
asserted
we → ’ → it
We have a ton of respect for them and we have to be at our best against their defense,” Young said.
asserted
Young → have → defense
Last week: Panthers beat the Falcons 34-3; Browns beat the Buccaneers 23-19.
asserted
Browns → beat → Buccaneers
Last meeting: Browns beat Panthers 26-24 on Sept. 11, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
asserted
Browns → beat → Charlotte
Series record: Panthers lead 4-3.
asserted
Panthers → lead → ?
The Panthers brought the veteran tight end in to give them another option in the red zone and he hasn’t disappointed.
asserted
he → bring → zone
After having a touchdown called back in Week 1 on an offensive pass interference, Waller responded with two TDs on Sunday at Atlanta.
asserted
Waller → have → Atlanta
At 6-foot-6, Waller provides Young with another big weapon alongside wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
asserted
Waller → provide → McMillan
Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton had five catches for 38 yards against the Browns in Week 2.
asserted
Otton → have → Week
Stats and stuff
— Cleveland has won three of the past four meetings.
asserted
Cleveland → win → meetings
— Carolina has scored at least 30 points in each of its first two games of the season for the first time in franchise history.
asserted
Carolina → score → history
— Panthers QB Bryce Young is tied for first in passing touchdowns (six) and second in passing yards (648), while ranking sixth in passer rating (113.3).
asserted
Young → tie → rating
— RB Chuba Hubbard has caught a touchdown pass on Carolina’s first possession in each of the first two games.
asserted
Hubbard → catch → games
— Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 30 passes last week at Tampa Bay, his sixth career start with at least an 80% completion rate.
asserted
Watson → complete → rate
— Browns WR Denzel Boston leads rookies with 154 receiving yards.
asserted
Boston → lead → yards
— Cleveland LB Carson Schwesinger has at least 10 tackles in eight of his last nine games.
asserted
Schwesinger → have → games
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