{
  "id": 12362540,
  "title": "Deshaun Watson Playing with Confidence, with a Coach that Believes in Him",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/deshaun-watson-playing-with-confidence-with-a-coach-that-believes-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T11:04:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/deshaun-watson-playing-confidence-coach-110453584.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns quarterback, is playing his best stretch since joining the team in a blockbuster trade in March 2022. With coach Todd Monken leading the offense, Watson is showing significant improvement, particularly in comparison to his previous stint with Kevin Stefanski in 2024. Watson's play has been marked by increased confidence, as evidenced by his improved completion rate (69.6%) and passing yards (768) in just four games. His dual-threat ability, demonstrated by 127 yards rushing on 31 carries, has also added depth to the team's offense. Watson's confidence is further reflected in his statistics, which have him ranked 14th in the NFL in QB rating (101.2) and 16th in QBR. Watson attributed his success to both his mental state and the team's progress, emphasizing the importance of a well-functioning unit. Coach Monken's decision to trust Watson, despite a poor opening game against the Jaguars, has paid off, and the quarterback has since led the Browns in three consecutive game-winning drives. Watson's improved ball security and quicker decision-making have also contributed to the team's success.",
  "summary": "BEREA, Ohio — When it comes to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, there is no question that Watson is playing his best stretch since joining the Browns in a blockbuster trade in March of 2022.Granted, that’s a low bar.However, there is something different about his play in 2026. Could it be playing in Todd Monken’s offense, which is clearly different than Kevin Stefanski’s offensive...",
  "key_points": [
    "Deshaun Watson is playing his best since joining Cleveland Browns in 2022.",
    "Coach Todd Monken's trust in Watson has improved his performance.",
    "Watson's stats rank him 14th in NFL QB rating and 16th in QBR."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}