Deshaun Watson dropped a message that shows how he’s feeling about Browns fans ahead of 2026 home debut
Deshaun Watson had to answer a key question about Browns fans ahead of the Week 3 game against the Panthers.
Deshaun Watson is coming off one of the best games of his Cleveland Browns career. The veteran quarterback completed 24-of-30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland’s 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a victory that gave the Browns their first win of the season.
Watson was sacked just twice and added 22 rushing yards with virtually no run game to lean on. It was a strong performance, and one he and the Browns hope to build on heading into Week 3.
Deshaun Watson has turned the page on a rough preseason reception
Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers will be Watson’s first home game of the 2026 season. That carries extra weight given what happened in his last appearance in Cleveland. Browns fans booed Watson off the field multiple times during a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, and his comments afterward were perceived as harsh.
Deshaun Watson isn’t dwelling on any of that. He’s only looking forward.
“Like I mentioned before, we passed that, that’s back in the day,” he stated. “I don’t want to backtrack on anything, we’re moving forward. It’s great energy now, there’s great energy this week within the locker room, within the city. So, let’s continue to build on that. That’s in the past, so let’s push forward. We’re present in the moment now, we’re focusing on Carolina, coming home against a good opponent, in front of our great fans, and we wanted that energy so we can go in there and get a W.”
The Browns have a chance to move to 2-1 on the season, and two wins in a row would be a meaningful step for this team and for Watson himself. How he performs Sunday could shape how Cleveland’s fan base treats him the rest of the year. If the quarterback doesn’t play well, Browns fans will likely let him hear it again.
Watson was 1-6 in his last season played for the Browns in 2024. He’s hoping to put together a much better performance than what fans in Cleveland have previously seen at home. Sunday’s game against the Panthers is worth watching for that reason alone, there’s likely to be a lasting impact either way.
