Todd Monken has made his call, however, the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback drama clearly is not going anywhere. Deshaun Watson will open the 2026 season as the 1st quarterback for the Browns, even after an uneven preseason and a rocky relationship with the fan base.
The decision has already drawn plenty of pushback, except one Browns radio host thinks the bigger issue may be what Monken said about Watson’s past, and that admission has made an already unpopular decision even harder to sell in the Browns.
Todd Monken’s Deshaun Watson Decision Faces Fresh Scrutiny
Speaking on 92.3 The Fan on September 2, Anthony Lima and Ken Carman reacted to Monken’s decision and the backlash surrounding it, stressing that the coach can’t simply make personnel decisions based on fan sentiment.
“You can’t make these decisions based on that, but you have to understand the consequences.”
"You can't make these decisions based on that, but you have to understand the consequences."
@SportsBoyTony and @KenCarman react to Todd Monken's comments on #Browns fans' reaction to his decision to start Deshaun Watson at QB https://t.co/KNphlEkibqpic.twitter.com/rM8MtvbMBg
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 2, 2026
That is the awkward part for Monken. He can ignore the boos when choosing his QB, however, he cannot ignore what comes with putting Watson back under center. The 30-year-old has played only 19 games for the Browns since arriving in the blockbuster 2022 trade and has not looked close to his Houston Texans form.
Monken announced Monday that Watson beat out Shedeur Sanders after the staff reviewed the entire offseason, training camp, preseason games, and joint practices. The coach said Watson gives Cleveland the best chance to move the ball and score against Jacksonville in Week 1.
However, Watson’s recent preseason work did not exactly strengthen that argument. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and an interception against the Buffalo Bills, with Cleveland fans loudly voicing their displeasure.
That immediately gave critics another reason to question the decision. Carman, however, offered a different interpretation. He suggested Monken could simply have been giving the media an answer rather than revealing exactly how the Browns reached their decision.
That matters because Monken had previously explained that he wanted to evaluate Watson based on what he saw under the new coaching staff instead of automatically judging him in the past. Watson also knows he has plenty to prove. After initially calling the fans’ boos disrespectful, he apologized Monday and acknowledged the frustration surrounding his Browns stint.
Now the talking is basically over. Watson gets the start for the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Sanders backing him up. If Watson plays well, Monken’s decision suddenly looks a lot smarter. If he struggles, every question about the QB choice and that strange tape admission is coming right back.
Related reading:
6 NFL Players Who Could Define the Opening Month of the 2026 Season
Christian Watson Had A Beautiful Gesture After Packers Rookie Made 53-Man Roster
The post Deshaun Watson Decision Draws Blunt Reaction After Todd Monken Names Him Browns Starter appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.