Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is hoping to move on from his previous issues in the 2026 season.
The Cleveland Browns have been handing most of the first-team reps at their ongoing training camp to veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson as the 2026 NFL season approaches. The move comes at the expense of rising second-year man Shedeur Sanders, whom many fans have been hoping will get the starting quarterback job for Cleveland this season.
It’s been a tumultuous tenure with the Browns so far for Watson, who recently spoke about how he is trying to keep his focus on the field.
“I have a clear vision. I have a clear mind. I think the world knows what I went through; it’s no secret off the field. And then on the field also with injuries. So I think anybody that had what I went through… would be in a different spot maybe. I’m mentally tough and dealt with it as best as I possibly could to be able to be standing here talking with you guys,” said Watson, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com on X, formerly Twitter.
Watson was accused by dozens of women of alleged misconduct during massage sessions. Watson was never criminally indicted and ended up settling the majority of the cases out of court, serving a suspension from the NFL in the process.
Watson also tore his Achilles during the 2024 season with Cleveland and aggravated the injury a few months later, causing him to miss the entirety of last season for the Browns.
While many fans hope to see the younger Sanders get the nod as the team’s starting quarterback, the immense salary that the Browns have tied to Watson might increase pressure from the ownership group to give him the job, at least at the beginning of the season.
The Browns are slated to kick off their 2026 schedule on September 13 on the road vs the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Cleveland Browns have been handing most of the first-team reps at their ongoing training camp to veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson as the 2026 NFL season approaches. The move comes at the expense of rising second-year man Shedeur Sanders, whom many fans have been hoping will get the starting quarterback job for Cleveland this season.
