Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson booed by fans during preseason game
Deshaun Watson was booed multiple times by the home crowd in his first appearance for Cleveland in 22 months, and he said the reaction was disrespectful.
Deshaun Watson entered the third quarter of the Browns' preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills and was met with boos from the sparse home crowd on four separate occasions. The first boos came when the public-address announcer introduced him, followed by jeers after an incomplete pass, a three-and-out series and an interception by Buffalo safety Te’Cory Couch.
Watson, who is competing with Shedeur Sanders for the starting quarterback role, finished the game completing five of 12 passes for 35 yards with one interception and a quarterback rating of 14.6.
"It has nothing to do about the performance. It’s a little bit more personal than that. So I think that’s a disrespectful thing," Watson said after the game, adding that he would keep his feelings private and move on.
He also recalled that fans had cheered when he suffered a torn Achilles on the same field two years earlier. When asked earlier in the week if he expected boos, Watson replied that he did not care.
"Only time I feel that energy is when I’m in the stadium, or it’s on social media. When I’m in public, nobody says anything," he said, noting that he feels more support on road games.
The Browns' coach Todd Monken indicated on the team's pre-game radio show that a decision on the starting quarterback is expected early next week. Most of Cleveland’s regular starters, including the entire offensive line, did not play in the preseason contest.