Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Joe Reedy The Associated Press
Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken announced Monday that Deshaun Watson will remain the starting quarterback despite a poor performance in Sunday’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where Cleveland lost 34-10. Despite Watson completing only five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown after the game was out of reach, Monken stated he sees improvement potential and cited Watson's solid practice week leading up to the game. The decision sparked fan outrage but Monken insisted it was not up to players to decide who starts.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Sunday, Deshaun Watson made his long-awaited return to the NFL after nearly two years out due to multiple Achilles injuries. However, his comeback for the Cleveland Browns was underwhelming, as he threw an interception on their opening drive and finished with a touchdown in garbage time during a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the poor performance, Browns coach Todd Monken expressed support for Watson, stating that he will remain the starter for Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Monken acknowledged areas needing improvement but emphasized shared responsibility, noting issues with play-calling and defensive support. Watson himself defended his mistakes by highlighting similar errors across the league, though his performance did not alleviate fans' concerns.
Written for “Deshaun Watson Criticism” on 2026-09-15,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 9460 · logged 2026-09-14
Cleveland Browns fans are used to their team stumbling out of the gate and not playing well in season openers.
asserted
team → stumble → openers
However, Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars sparked anger and disappointment for several reasons, chief among them Deshaun Watson’s role as starting quarterback.
asserted
loss → spark → quarterback
For those wondering if Todd Monken would turn to Shedeur Sanders for Week 2 at Tampa Bay, the first-year coach said Monday: “I anticipate Deshaun will be our starter.”
asserted
Deshaun → wonder → Bay
“It’s only been two weeks, he’s gotten all the reps, and there were some really good things on film, some things that you can build on,” Monken said.
asserted
Monken → get → that
“I liked his week of practice last week, and I think he’s only going to continue to get better.”
asserted
he → like → practice
Watson finished 16 of 22 passing for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first NFL game in 22 months.
asserted
Watson → finish → months
He had a 97.7 passer rating, which is considered above average, but that was because he completed all five passes for 105 yards and a TD in the fourth quarter, when the game was out of reach.
asserted
game → have → reach
Even though Watson said he was eager to showcase what he could do in Monken’s offense, the 10-year veteran looked like the 2024 version — tentative in the pocket, with a lot of short throws and a tendency to tuck the ball and run at the first sign of pressure.
uncertain
veteran → say → pressure
When asked if Watson had unanimous support among the players in the locker room, Monken bristled at the question while also indicating it wasn’t their decision to make.
asserted
it → ask → question
“They don’t have a choice.
asserted
They → have → choice
I mean, this isn’t a debate, and I don’t ask the players every series what play I’m going to call, what play we’re going to call on defense.
asserted
we → mean → defense
Their job’s to play, our job’s to put the best player on the field that we think gives us a chance to win,” Monken said.
asserted
Monken → ’ → chance
“There’s decisions that are made at every position.
asserted
that → ’ → position
Quarterback just happens to be one of those.
asserted
Quarterback → happen → those
“I don’t blame people for having opinions, but ultimately, it’s for all of us to support who we put on the field that gives us the best chance to win.”
asserted
that → blame → chance
One saving grace for the Browns is that the next game isn’t in Cleveland.
asserted
game → save → Cleveland
Watson was loudly booed during an Aug. 22 preseason game against Buffalo in a stadium that was only one-quarter full.
asserted
that → boo → stadium
The jeers are expected to be louder in a nearly full stadium if he gets the start on Sept. 27 against Carolina.
asserted
he → expect → Carolina
What’s working
The Browns had 228 yards on six kickoff returns — fourth most since the franchise returned in 1999 — and averaged 38.0 yards per return.
asserted
franchise → work → return
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders’ 74-yard return to the Jaguars 23 helped set up Andre Szmyt’s 26-yard field goal.
asserted
return → set → goal
What needs help
A lot, including defensive fundamentals.
asserted
needs → need → fundamentals
The Browns had 12 missed tackles and allowed two touchdown passes of at least 30 yards.
asserted
Browns → have → yards
Stock up
Rookie right guard Austin Barber allowed only one pressure and made a couple of nice blocks in the run game.
asserted
Barber → allow → game
The third-round pick was an offensive tackle at Florida and moved to guard midway through training camp.
asserted
pick → move → camp
Stock down
Nickel cornerback Myles Harden allowed four receptions for 54 yards, including biting on a double move by Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington for a 30-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.
asserted
Harden → allow → quarter
Key injuries
Running back Dylan Sampson suffered a left knee injury during the first quarter and did not return.
asserted
Sampson → suffer → quarter
Further testing is scheduled after he was seen wearing a knee brace and using crutches.
asserted
he → schedule → crutches
It will be the second time Mayfield, the top overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, will face the Browns.
asserted
Mayfield → face → Browns
Cleveland won 26-24.
asserted
Cleveland → win → ?
The Aporia
