Todd Monken: I wouldn't say Deshaun Watson is playing to earn start in Week 3

Browns head coach Todd Monken stuck with Deshaun Watson as the team’s starting quarterback for this week’s game against the Buccaneers, but some are already looking ahead to what he’ll do in Week 3.

That will be the Browns’ home opener and Watson’s last appearance in Cleveland came amid cascades of boos during a preseason game. During a press conference on Wednesday, Monken was asked if Watson is in a position where he has to play well enough to earn another start.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Monken said. “I always expect our players to play well. I wouldn’t put them out there if I didn’t. I expect him to play really well and there were moments on Sunday when he did.”

There were also moments when he didn’t, of course, and it won’t take too many more of those to guarantee a similar reaction to Watson taking the field in Cleveland to the same reaction he got this summer. Monken has shrugged off fan reaction to his decisions in the past, but there would seem to be a level Watson has to reach this Sunday in order for the Browns to continue trying to salvage something from his tenure with the team.