This wasn’t the start Cleveland wanted.
On the Browns’ opening drive, Deshaun Watson threw an interception. With 12:17 left in the first quarter at Jacksonville’s 28-yard line on second-and-5, Watson targeted Jerry Jeudy on a curl near the 10 but instead sailed the ball into the arms of Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, who returned it to Jacksonville’s 41.
Oluokun had dropped into underneath coverage and Watson didn’t appear to see him, effectively delivering the pass to the defender. Eight plays later Trevor Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for a touchdown, giving Jacksonville an early 7-0 lead.
The throw was Watson’s third of the season and only his third NFL pass since 2024; his career has been disrupted by injury and uneven play, and he hadn’t taken an NFL snap until Sunday. Two drives after the interception, with the Jaguars up 14-0, Watson was sacked and fumbled; the Browns recovered, but it compounded a rough opening for the veteran.
Watson kept the starting job after training camp, winning out over second-year Shedeur Sanders, whose rookie year offered little indication he was ready for starting duties. Watson, who signed with Cleveland in 2022 amid allegations of sexual misconduct by multiple women, was booed by Browns fans during the preseason and publicly rebuked them afterward.
Because the game was in Jacksonville he avoided a louder reaction from the home crowd, but if his play doesn’t improve Sunday he could face a chilly reception when Cleveland hosts the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27.
Fan take: This matters because the Browns’ investment in Watson is on full display—early turnovers and shaky play raise real questions about their QB direction and roster decisions. For the league, it’s a reminder that high-profile comebacks are fragile; how teams manage troubled stars affects competitive balance and fan sentiment across the NFL.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
