Browns QB Watson: Focus on winning, not job security

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  Daniel OyefusiSep 16, 2026, 12:36 PM ET

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  Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

EREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said Wednesday that his focus is on getting a win in Week 2, not his job security or the potential fan reception awaiting him in the team's home opener in Week 3.

Despite struggling in Cleveland's season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson is expected to start in the Browns' Week 2 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, coach Todd Monken said Monday.

On Wednesday, Watson was asked about the importance of a good performance to keep his starting job and foster goodwill ahead of the Browns' home opener against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3.

"Personally, I think all that is for the media," Watson said. "I think the media has this expectation that I'm supposed to throw 400 yards and five touchdowns every week. Until that happens, I guess it's going to be the same situation. My job is to make sure I'm playing well so that we can try to get a win and keep moving forward from there."

Watson, who has only played in 20 games since arriving in Cleveland via trade in March 2022, has not thrown for 300 yards in a single game as a member of the Browns. Monken named Watson the team's starting quarterback on Aug. 24 after a training camp competition with Shedeur Sanders -- two days after Watson struggled in the second half of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and then called Browns fans who booed him disrespectful.

Watson finished 16-of-22 for 205 yards against the Jaguars with a touchdown, an interception and 38 rushing yards in the 34-10 loss. The Browns trailed 24-0 at halftime, tying their worst halftime shutout in the past 35 years, according to ESPN Research.

Monken said Monday that after watching the film, it confirmed to him that Watson should continue as the starter.

"I always expect our players to play well," Monken said Wednesday. "I wouldn't put them out there if I didn't. So, I expect to play really well. And there were moments on Sunday that he did, and there were moments we did a really good job offensively. And there were moments we didn't. And there were moments we didn't coach well enough. And there were moments we didn't play well enough."