Deshaun Watson Makes Bold Statement About Browns QB Battle
The 2026 campaign holds great importance for former Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns, who returns to the field for the first time since the 2024 season following a pair of Achilles surgeries.
Watson is hoping to make the most of the opportunity to secure the starting job and prove himself to the Browns and the rest of the NFL.
“I think each and every person that walks into the locker room should have that mindset that you want to start in this league,” Watson said via ESPN. “That’s why we show up each and every day, to be able to go out there and be able to perform on Sundays or whatever that day is. So yeah, it’s definitely the main focus of why I work hard to be able to come back.”
It’s been nothing short of an uphill battle for Watson to get back on the field, as he missed last season after rupturing his Achilles tendon that required surgery in January 2025. Even before the injuries, he has struggled to play at a Pro Bowl level since joining the Browns, posting a 33.1 quarterback rating, which ranks last among qualifying passers.
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Watson is now heading into a crucial campaign in the last year of his five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. The 30-year-old is amid an open competition for the starting job against second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
A lot is riding on the 2026 season, which will determine how the next chapter of his NFL career unfolds.
