Former NFL starting QB doubled down on harsh Deshaun Watson prediction on national TV during Browns’ preseason win
Deshaun Watson didn’t play a down in the last preseason game for the Browns, but was still the center of attention during one part of the Amazon Prime broadcast. Ryan Fitzpatrick dropped quite the prediction he sees coming for Watson.
The Cleveland Browns kept both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders on the sideline Thursday night during a 37-13 preseason win over the New England Patriots.
Cleveland is firm with its top two quarterbacks heading into the NFL season, giving the entire game to Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green instead. Each quarterback got a half to play, and both showed some strong moments in a game where the Browns controlled things on both sides of the football.
Deshaun Watson’s Week 1 start sparks national debate
Though Watson did not play, the starting quarterback for Week 1 opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars became the topic of discussion on the Amazon Prime broadcast. Ryan Fitzpatrick, a former starting quarterback who played 17 NFL seasons, doubled down on what he sees coming for Watson in 2026.
Fitzpatrick: “Once [Deshaun Watson] fails, Shedeur [Sanders] is going to jump into this thing, and he’s going to be the guy, and this city is going to be behind him.”
Kirk Herbstreit: “You think he’ll fail?”
Fitzpatrick: “Yeah … It’s gonna happen.”
That’s a strong take by Fitzpatrick to go on national TV during a Thursday Night Football preseason broadcast and say Watson is going to fail. It’s no bold prediction in the sense that Watson hasn’t been good in a Browns uniform. Let’s just call it what it is. Still, it’s something you don’t necessarily see analysts do quite often. It’s a bit more surprising because it’s a former quarterback putting down another player who plays the same position. Fitzpatrick knows firsthand how hard it is to be successful in the NFL as a quarterback.
Deshaun Watson won the preseason battle, but history tells a familiar story
Watson won the preseason quarterback battle over Sanders and will start the season as Cleveland’s quarterback. His Week 1 start against Jacksonville will be his first game starting for the Browns since the 2024 season.
If history means anything with Watson on the roster, it’s that multiple quarterbacks are going to play for the Browns this season. Watson has never had strong quarterback play while with Cleveland, and he’s been injured every season he’s played with them so far.
Fitzpatrick’s comments are pointed, and they may come off as harsh. You have to respect him calling it like he sees it and not being afraid to do so at the very least. We’ll see if Watson can prove him weong.
