Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson faced a hostile home crowd during a recent preseason game at Huntington Bank Field, where fans loudly booed his every appearance despite his public comments dismissing their reaction.
Watson took the field to sustained booing that continued throughout the third quarter as Cleveland’s offense sputtered. The quarterback completed two three-and-out drives to start the game, threw an interception on his third possession, and failed to convert a fourth-down attempt on his fourth drive. Though the stadium was largely empty, those in attendance made their disapproval unmistakable.
The reception underscored the frayed relationship between the franchise and its fanbase since the blockbuster 2022 Trade that brought Watson to Cleveland. The Browns surrendered three first-round picks, a second-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick to acquire him, then signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract — the largest guaranteed deal in NFL history at the time.
In four seasons since the trade, Watson has appeared in 19 games and ranked among the league’s least effective starting quarterbacks by most statistical measures. His debut was delayed by an 11-game suspension imposed by the NFL after more than two dozen massage therapists accused him of sexual assault during treatment sessions. Watson settled the vast majority of the civil lawsuits stemming from those allegations.
Watson told reporters earlier in the week that he does not care what kind of reception he receives from Cleveland fans. The preseason response suggests that sentiment is unlikely to change when the Browns host their first regular-season home game in Week Three. If Watson remains the starter, a similar atmosphere awaits — regardless of whether he acknowledges it.
