Todd Monken Stands Firm on Deshaun Watson as Starting QB Despite Fan Discontent

The Cleveland Browns are gearing up for the 2026 season with Deshaun Watson as their leading quarterback. This decision persists even amidst significant fan discontent.

Watson, who faced boos from Cleveland fans after publicly criticizing them, is now tasked with regaining their support. However, Browns head coach Todd Monken seems unfazed by the lack of fan approval.

Monken’s Firm Decision

During a recent press conference, Monken stated he is “absolutely not” concerned about the dissatisfaction among fans regarding his choice to start Watson. According to Myles Simmons from Pro Football Talk, Monken emphasized that his decisions aim at benefiting the team from Week 1 onwards.

“Would I prefer that we would all be on the same page? Yeah, but that has nothing to do with my decision, and it can never have anything to do with my decision,” Monken said.

Focus on Explosive Plays

Explaining why Watson was chosen, Monken highlighted the importance of creating explosive plays. He noted that offensive success and scoring depend heavily on such plays. “You’re not going to be elite on offense and score points if you can’t create explosives,” he explained.

Monken discussed how successful drives often require explosive plays, backed by studies showing higher touchdown or field goal chances with such plays.

“Every coordinator is going to say we’re chasing explosives,” Monken remarked, highlighting the universal pursuit for explosive plays and careful handling of turnovers.

Confidence in Watson

Monken expressed confidence in Watson’s ability to deliver these explosive plays. The coach underscored the importance of having players capable of executing plays against various defenses, with protection schemes in place.

“I’m confident in Deshaun and our ability to push the ball down the field, otherwise we wouldn’t be starting him,” Monken stated.

The decision places Watson in the spotlight. His performance in executing big plays will be crucial. Failure to turn these plays into points might jeopardize his position as the primary quarterback in Cleveland.