Browns to start Deshaun Watson in season opener after preseason criticism
The Cleveland Browns announced that quarterback Deshaun Watson will be the starter for Week 1, with coach Todd Monken saying the team will evaluate his performance during the first two road games.
Cleveland will name Deshaun Watson as its starting quarterback for the opening game of the regular season, coach Todd Monken said. Monken indicated that the team will assess Watson during the first two road contests, against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, and that early wins could improve his reception among fans.
The decision follows a preseason matchup in which Watson faced boos from the crowd and made comments about his strained relationship with Browns supporters. Monken said the criticism did not affect his confidence in the quarterback.
If the Browns win both games and Watson performs well, the team could be positioned for a 2-0 start, a milestone the franchise has not achieved since 1993.