Deshaun Watson Remains Browns Starter — But the Pressure Is Already Building

The Cleveland Browns are not changing quarterbacks.

Not yet.

Head coach Todd Monken confirmed Monday that he expects Deshaun Watson to remain Cleveland’s starter for Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite an opening performance in which the Browns were overwhelmed 34-10 by Jacksonville.

Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while adding a team-high 38 rushing yards. Those final numbers look considerably better than Cleveland’s offense did for most of the afternoon.

The Browns had only one first down across six first-half possessions, trailed 24-0 at halftime and did not score a touchdown until Watson connected with Denzel Boston for a 46-yard score with 1:52 remaining. Watson was also sacked five times.

That is enough to start a quarterback conversation almost anywhere.

Cleveland already has one waiting.

Monken Saw Enough to Stick With Watson

Monken did not immediately commit to Watson after Sunday’s loss.

He wanted to watch the film first.

After doing so, the first-year Browns coach came away believing there was enough worth building upon to keep Watson under center against Tampa Bay.

Monken pointed out that Watson has received only two weeks of full first-team repetitions after missing almost two entire seasons. Sunday marked Watson’s first regular-season start in 693 days following multiple Achilles injuries.

The Browns believe some of the problems were broader than the quarterback.

Cleveland struggled getting plays communicated cleanly, committed 11 penalties for 75 yards and repeatedly put itself in poor down-and-distance situations. Monken said the offensive breakdown was collective—coaching, quarterback and supporting cast all included.

That is fair.

It also cannot become the explanation every week.

The First Half Was the Real Concern

Watson’s completion percentage was strong.

The efficiency of the offense was not.

Cleveland barely threatened Jacksonville before the game was essentially decided. Watson threw an interception on the opening possession, and the Browns spent the remainder of the first half struggling to generate anything consistently.

Jacksonville built a 31-0 lead early in the third quarter.

That’s the issue.

A starting quarterback can have a mediocre statistical game.

What Cleveland cannot repeatedly survive is an offense that looks nonfunctional for entire quarters.

The Browns need Watson getting the offense lined up quickly, identifying pressure, creating manageable third downs and producing points before the outcome has already been decided.

Week 2 needs to show progress in those areas even if the box score remains modest.

Shedeur Sanders Changes the Conversation

There is another reason every Watson performance will receive additional scrutiny.

Shedeur Sanders is sitting behind him.

Sanders competed with Watson throughout training camp and showed flashes during the preseason, including a 9-of-11 performance for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Buffalo. NFL.com noted at the time that Sanders moved the offense more effectively than Watson during that particular preseason game.

Monken ultimately selected Watson.

Nothing from the organization suggests that decision is being reconsidered for Tampa Bay.

But Sanders’ presence means Cleveland has a legitimate alternative if the offense continues to struggle.

That does not mean one bad quarter against the Buccaneers should trigger a change.

It does mean the Browns cannot allow this to become an indefinite evaluation.

Tampa Bay Gives Watson an Immediate Opportunity

The Buccaneers are also 0-1 after losing 33-27 to Cincinnati in their opener.

That makes Sunday important for both teams.

Cleveland is trying to prove Jacksonville was an ugly opening week rather than evidence of deeper offensive problems.

Tampa Bay is trying to avoid an 0-2 start.

And there is another obvious storyline waiting on the opposite sideline:

Baker Mayfield against Cleveland.

The former Browns quarterback has established himself in Tampa Bay while Cleveland has continued searching for long-term stability at the position.

That history will generate plenty of attention.

Watson can quiet some of it simply by playing well.

The Browns Need More Than Better Quarterback Play

Watson was not the only problem in Jacksonville.

Cleveland rushed for only 89 yards as a team.

Starting running back Quinshon Judkins managed 33 yards on 12 carries, and the Browns have now lost backup Dylan Sampson to injured reserve with a knee injury.

Protection also has to improve.

Watson taking five sacks is unsustainable, particularly for a quarterback returning from significant lower-body injuries.

If Cleveland expects him to regain confidence and rhythm, the offense cannot repeatedly put him in obvious passing situations behind unstable protection.

That makes Week 2 a test of Monken as much as Watson.

Can the Browns create easier throws?

Can they establish Judkins?

Can they get out of the huddle faster?

Can they prevent Tampa Bay from dictating the game before Watson ever has a chance to settle in?

Keeping Watson as the starter for Week 2 is reasonable.

Automatically guaranteeing him the job indefinitely would not be.

Sunday was his first regular-season game in nearly two years. Rust should have been expected. Cleveland also played poorly around him, and evaluating a quarterback solely from one start after that length of absence would be shortsighted.

But this cannot turn into a season-long waiting game.

Watson is 31.

Sanders is entering his second season.

The Browns need to determine whether their offense can function at a competitive level with Watson—not merely whether individual throws still look good on film.

That is why Tampa Bay matters.

The standard doesn’t have to be 300 yards and four touchdowns.

It needs to be visible progress.

Better operation.

Fewer negative plays.

Sustained drives.

Points before garbage time.

If those things happen, Cleveland can reasonably continue allowing Watson to work himself back into form.

If the offense again spends the first half going nowhere?

Then the question won’t be whether Cleveland has another quarterback available.

It will be how much longer the Browns can justify not using him.

Watson gets Week 2.

What he does with it may determine how much patience remains afterward.

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