Deshaun Watson starts at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns season opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 8, 2026, 8:04 PM
Last updated Sep 8, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have named Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL season. Watson won the position following an offseason competition with second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. ESPN Research recently noted that Watson recorded the lowest Total Quarterback Rating in the league among players with at least five starts during the 2024 season. During that injury-shortened campaign, Watson completed 137 of 216 passes for 1,148 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The quarterback returns to the lineup following a right Achilles tendon rupture sustained in Week 7 of the 2024 season against the Cincinnati Bengals. Watson remains a focal point for the franchise as the team prepares for its first game of the season.
- •Deshaun Watson beat Shedeur Sanders in the competition for the starting quarterback role.
- •Watson posted a 21.0 Total QBR during the 2024 season.
- •The 2024 season ended for Watson after a Week 7 Achilles injury.
- •Browns fans booed Watson during a 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.
- 8:04 PMYahoo Sports — Shocking Stat Exposes Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson With League Lowest Metric
"The Cleveland Browns are set to begin their 2026 NFL season and will be counting on Deshaun Watson a lot. The veteran has been announced as the starting quarterback for the franchise, ahead of second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. This decision was only recently announced, after a tough offseason competition between him and Sanders. The team […] The post Shocking Stat Exposes Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson With League Lowest Metric appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
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