Shedeur Sanders defends Deshaun Watson after fans boo during preseason loss to Bills

Key facts

Browns lost preseason game to Buffalo Bills 31-7 on August 22, 2026
Shedeur Sanders started and went 9-for-11 for 74 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Deshaun Watson entered in third quarter and went 5-for-12 for 36 yards and 1 INT while being booed by home fans
Watson tore Achilles tendon during 2024 season; this was his first home appearance since injury
Browns acquired Watson for five first-round picks, one second-round pick, one third-round pick, and one fourth-round pick; signed him to five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract

The game and the setting

The Cleveland Browns played a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 22, 2026, at Huntington Bank Field. The Bills won decisively 31-7. This outing served as a key data point in the Browns’ ongoing quarterback competition between two very different candidates: Shedeur Sanders, the young draft prospect, and Deshaun Watson, the veteran acquired in 2022 for a historic haul of draft capital and a fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million over five years.

Shedeur Sanders’ performance

Sanders was given the start in the preseason matchup. He completed his first eight passes without issue, including an 8-yard touchdown to Luke Floriea on the opening drive. Overall, he completed 9 of his first 11 attempts for 74 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Sanders showed poise in the pocket and handled his reads smoothly. His ninth throw, however, was behind tight end Jermaine Terry II, deflecting into the hands of Bills safety Damar Hamlin. His passes traveled an average of 3.2 yards downfield. He was sacked once with no loss of yardage and rushed for 2 yards.

Deshaun Watson’s performance and the home crowd reaction

Watson entered the game in the third quarter, making his first appearance at Huntington Bank Field since tearing his Achilles tendon during the 2024 season. Fans booed as he took the field and continued throughout his drives. Watson struggled significantly. He went 5 of 12 for 36 yards and threw one interception. The Browns went three-and-out on his first two drives, then Watson threw the interception on his third drive and an incompletion on fourth down to end his fourth drive. The booing intensified after Watson overthrew wide receiver Gage Larvadain on a play that was intercepted by Buffalo DB Te’Cory Couch.

Watson’s and Sanders’ responses

After the game, Watson addressed the booing at his postgame press conference. He said the reaction was “a little bit more personal” than performance-related and called it “a disrespectful thing.” He noted that the same fans cheered when he tore his Achilles the previous season, and questioned what that had to do with his play on the field. “Last time I played on this field I tore my Achilles. That same fan base cheered when I got hurt. What does that have to do with anything about performance?” he said.

Sanders took a different stance. When asked about the booing, he expressed disagreement with the way fans treated Watson. “Yeah, I mean, in general, I don’t appreciate that at all,” Sanders said. “Regardless of competition, we’re all human beings. I think we all need to understand that.” Sanders emphasized respect and said he tries to make sure everyone is comfortable, adding that the situation should be viewed as “a bigger purpose and it’s respect.” He acknowledged that being who he is can make some people uncomfortable but believes the same consideration should apply to all involved.

Context on Watson’s acquisition and performance

Watson was traded to the Browns before the 2022 season after the team sent a significant package of draft picks: three first-round selections, one second-round pick, one third-round pick, and one fourth-round pick. He then signed the five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million. This happened despite Watson facing more than 20 civil lawsuits for alleged misconduct during massage-therapy sessions. He served an 11-game suspension to start his time in Cleveland. Through 19 starts since arriving, Watson has underperformed, failing in any season to reach the 3,800-plus passing yards or 26-plus passing touchdowns he recorded in three straight seasons with the Houston Texans before joining the Browns.

What is next

Head coach Todd Monken declined to name a starter immediately after the game but indicated that a decision could come as soon as Monday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Browns face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 of the regular season. Neither Watson nor Sanders has exceeded 200 passing yards through two preseason weeks, and both have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns during the preseason period.

Sources

Featured photo: Erik Drost via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)