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Cleveland Browns Fans Boo Deshaun Watson Before Bengals Game

Cleveland Browns fans booed starting quarterback Deshaun Watson as he was introduced before Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Published

3 hours ago

October 20, 2024

Alan Saunders

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) leaves the field at the end of the first half against the Chicago Bears in an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. Suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s status has not been affected by a new civil lawsuit filed against him by another woman claiming sexual misconduct two years ago, the NFL said. Watson is serving an 11-game suspension for alleged sexual misconduct while he played for the Houston Texans. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)

Cleveland Browns fans booed starting quarterback Deshaun Watson as he was introduced prior to Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watson, who has been dogged by sexual assault allegations throughout his time in Cleveland, has seemingly lost the patience of the fanbase by combining off-the-field issues with on-field struggles, as well.

The Deshaun Watson intro went well… pic.twitter.com/zTP5GzdKqa

— Cody Suek (@CodySuek) October 20, 2024

The 29-year-old has completed 61.3% of his passes and has a 76.6 passer rating through six games as the Browns have gotten out to a 1-5 start to the 2024 season. Watson is 24th in passing yards, 27th in completion percentage, 28th in passer rating and 30th in adjusted net yards per attempt through the first six weeks of the season.

Watson is set to earn $46 million this season, making him the eight-highest paid quarterback in the league. His $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Browns remains the largest in NFL history and Cleveland would absorb a $92 million dead cap hit if he was released.

Pittsburgh Steelers Cleveland Browns Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 18, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Watson’s struggles have caused some to call for the team to start veteran backup Jameis Winston instead of Watson. Winston started 10 games for the Saints from 2020-23, and was previously the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But Winston isn’t even dressed for Sunday’s game, as second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson got the call up to the second string instead. The team’s fifth-round pick out of UCLA in 2023, Robinson started three games last season when Watson was injured, before the team turned to veteran free agent Joe Flacco.

The boos for Watson quickly subsided as the Browns fans were subsequently treated to a return introduction for running back Nick Chubb, who is playing in his first game since suffering a major knee injury against the Steelers last September.

That was followed by the Bengals returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Charlie Jones ran the kickoff ALL THE WAY back for the Bengals TD! 🔥

🎥 NFL, CBS | #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/7KP7iEdj0Z

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 20, 2024