Todd Monken: We expect Deshaun Watson to play well, or we wouldn't be starting him

Head coach Todd Monken of the Cleveland Browns has stated that they anticipate Deshaun Watson to perform well when he starts as the team's quarterback for the 2026 season. During a Monday press conference, Monken expressed confidence in Watson, noting that he believes Watson provides Cleveland its best chance to win the game. He explained that after carefully reviewing Watson's performance over the offseason, training camp, games, and joint practice sessions, he concluded that Watson would be the optimal choice to start the season on the road against Jacksonville.

Monken also mentioned that while Watson has shown leadership in the clubhouse throughout the offseason, the quarterback's comments following a poor performance in a preseason game did not influence Monken's decision. Monken assured that the fans expect the team to win and put on a good performance, and it is the coaches' responsibility to provide that product.

He acknowledged Watson's frustration with boos but emphasized that it is the team's job to overcome such challenges and focus on playing winning football. While Monken believes Watson has the ability to bounce back and compete at a high level, he reiterated that the team will have to prove their expectations every week.