Shedeur Sanders forced to defend Deshaun Watson as Browns QB battle turns ugly, ‘I regret nothing’

Deshaun Watson’s first home game since October 2024 saw the $230 million Cleveland Browns star met with a chorus of boos.

The quarterback is back fit after tearing his right Achilles tendon and looking to beat Shedeur Sanders to the starting job.

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Browns fans have made their feelings clear on who they would prefer to see under center.

Watson took over from Sanders in the second half and completed five of 12 passes for 35 yards and one interception in a 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Huntington Bank Field was half full but those who did turn up made plenty of noise.

“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said. “It’s a little bit [more] personal than that.

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“So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on.”

Watson’s time in Cleveland has been ravaged by poor form, injury and off field-issues.

“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said. “So, what does that have to do with anything about performance?

“When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer?”

Asked if he regretted choosing Cleveland, Watson insisted: “I don’t regret anything in my life.”

Head coach Todd Monken isn’t ready to name a starter just yet and seems to believe Watson can change opinions.

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“I know you asked [Watson], like, ‘Hey, how does it feel to get booed?’ It’s a pretty easy question — it sucks,” he said. “I don’t want to get booed. It comes with the territory.

“You don’t want to get booed? Let’s play good football. Let’s play good at quarterback. Let’s play good on offense. Let’s play good as a team. And then you don’t have to worry about all that because it can turn just like that.

“Win, play good football, and everybody will be fine. That’s just part of it. That’s what I told him. ‘You good? We’re good.’ Part of what we do.”

Shedeur Sanders scores TD on opening drive

Sanders was given a chance to start and state his case, going 9-of-11 passing for one touchdown and a pick.

He came to the defense of his rival after the game.

“[I don’t like it,] at all, just regardless of competition, we’re all human beings,” Sanders said of the boos. “I think we all need to understand that, in this room, too. We are humans.”

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“I don’t really like making people feel uncomfortable in different spaces.

“That’s why, sometimes, like, daily things I do, I try to make sure everybody’s comfortable. Because a lot of things, just even, I am, as a person sometimes, can make people uncomfortable. So, I mean, I’m obviously aware of that.”

Sanders did insist that fans have a right to be frustrated.

“Just for all the fans and everything, I really appreciate y’all showing up and everything,” he added. “And however y’all feel about the situation, about what was shown, about everything.”