Deshaun Watson鈥檚 tumultuous career has taken a complicated turn since his trade to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. Despite once being a top talent, Watson has struggled both on and off the field, facing serious allegations and injuries that led the team to question his role. He was awarded the starting position for the upcoming 2026 season despite recent fan discontent and competition from new quarterbacks drafted in 2025. The franchise's deep investment in Watson, both in talents and finances, has put immense pressure on him as he enters the final year of his fully guaranteed contract.

By the Numbers
  • Watson has played 19 games across four seasons with the Browns, recording 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
  • During his tenure with the Texans, he completed 54 games with 14,539 passing yards, 104 touchdowns, compared to 36 interceptions.
State of Play
  • Watson has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since Week 10 of the 2023 season.
  • He has regained the starting role for the Cleveland Browns despite a lack of strong performances in recent years and mixed reception from fans.
What's Next

The Browns will monitor Watson closely as the 2026 season begins, facing significant pressure to perform. A solid start may ease tensions with fans and management, but failure could lead to further scrutiny and potential changes at quarterback.

Bottom Line

As Watson approaches the start of the 2026 season, the time is critical for him to revitalize his career and restore faith from the Browns organization and fans, proving that he can still be the quarterback they envisioned when they made a historic trade.