Deshaun Watson speaks publicly, eyes Browns starter spot

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, speaking publicly for the first time in nearly two years, is focused on reclaiming the starting job after a tumultuous and injury-plagued tenure with the franchise. Watson addressed reporters on Wednesday, June 11, 2026, as he competes with Shedeur Sanders for the top spot under new head coach Todd Monken.

Watson’s last game was in October 2024, when he ruptured his right Achilles tendon during a non-contact play against the Cincinnati Bengals. He re-injured the tendon two months later, requiring a second surgery and wiping out his entire 2025 season. If he is named the starter for Cleveland’s season opener on September 13 at Jacksonville, it will mark 693 days between starts.

The quarterback’s time in Cleveland has been defined by unmet expectations since the 2022 trade that sent three first-round picks to the Houston Texans and brought Watson to the Browns on a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Team owner Jimmy Haslam last year characterized the move as a “big swing and miss.” Watson’s on-field production has fallen short of his peak 2020 season in Houston, where he was a three-time Pro Bowler and led the league in...