Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson did not play well against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 (205 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception).
Especially given the recent controversy surrounding Watson and Cleveland fans
, it's more than reasonable for said fans to expect him to play well on Sunday at Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers to keep his starting job and to keep them on his side... if they are in the first place.However, Watson told reporters on Wednesday that it's the media that is putting the pressure on him to play well to keep his job and win Browns fans over. Yes, the reporters in the room. They're the ones demanding Watson do his job at a high level.
"I think the media has this expectation that I'm supposed to throw 400 yards
and 5 touchdowns every week," Watson told reporters, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. "Until that happens, I guess it's going to be the same situation."
Welp. We're sure that's the answer that Cleveland fans were hoping to hear from their starting quarterback about him playing well for the team.
#Browns Deshaun Watson on if he needs to have a big game to get the nod at home and also build up goodwill for the return to Huntington Bank Field: pic.twitter.com/aA37LoCgpr
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 16, 2026
Watson obviously has to play better period to keep his starting duties. Doing so as soon as possible would go a long way to keep him on the field. If not, he may well get booed in his home opener.
Who do the Browns play at home.
The team returns to Cleveland to take on the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Deshaun Watson blames media for expectation to play well for Browns
