QB Deshaun Watson (6.10.26)
What do you make of this opportunity that you have to come back out here and win this starting job after everything that’s transpired here so far?
“I mean, it’s a blessing. It’s great. Anytime you get the opportunity to play in the National Football League is an honor. So, I don’t take it for granted. I work hard to do what I need to do each and every day to just try to put out the best product I can on the field.”
What is your mindset entering the final year of your contract? Obviously, everything that’s gone on injury-wise over the past couple years, just where are you at mentally, your mindset, how are you approaching it all?
“I’m great mentally. I’m in a great space. You know, my home is good. Me and my wife is doing a heck of a job just working each and every day mentally to just stay on top of what we need to stay on top of. So, I appreciate her. I appreciate the staff and the organization for always having my back and, yeah, I’m in a good space, enjoying myself out here, enjoying my teammates and the new coaching staff. So, I’m in a great space.”
What was the last year and a half like for you since that injury in the Bengals game?
“I mean, it was a lot of ups and downs. I learned a lot about myself, learned that you just got to be patient, just keep working, keep pushing forward. But, I’ve always kind of had that mentality since I was a kid, you know, growing up. So, it wasn’t anything new for me. The situation and environment was probably new, just dealing with the type of injuries that I had. But outside of that, just keep pushing forward. That’s how life goes. Life is going to continue to go on. So, yeah, it’s been tough, but at the same time, I was able to grow and learn.”
Was there ever a fear in the back of your mind — like, am I going to ever be able to get back out there and get an opportunity to play this game?
“No, never was a thought.”
The last time we saw you on the field, you were rupturing your Achilles and you got some boos from some fans. And now there still are some fans that don’t necessarily seem to be in your corner. How as you move forward and maybe become the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, how do you reconcile the notion that maybe you don’t have all the support that you would hope to have from Cleveland Browns fans?
“At the end of the day, I can’t control what people support. I think that’s their own opinions. I think that all I can do is just put out the best person I am, showcase who I am as a person, as a player, as a teammate, and what I represent as an individual. So outside of that, I can’t focus on what the outside is saying or what they — I have no control over that other than just putting out the best product that I can put out as a person and as a player.”
Did you have any emotions with that? I know a lot of your teammates kind of spoke out about how frustrated they were. Do you have any strong emotions about some of that fan reaction?
“I mean, yeah, I had emotions at the time, but you grow out of it.”
Yesterday, Todd Monken said this competition was too close to call. Do you feel that way?
“I just show up every day, so I can’t control coaches. He’s the head coach. He’s the one calling the plays and he’s got to decide who he wants out there on the field. So, at the end of the day, I got to just show up each and every day and be ready and wait until my number is called.”
How important is it to you to get a chance to start again?
“I mean, it’s very important. I think each and every person that walks into the locker room should have that mindset that you want to start in this league. That’s why we show up each and every day, to be able to go out there and perform on Sundays or whenever that day is. So, yeah, so it’s definitely the main focus of why I work hard to be able to come back the way I do.”
How does this system fit you versus the last few installments of different offensive coordinators?
“You know, it’s a lot of responsibility on the quarterbacks in this system, and I think that’s what I had in Houston when I was with Bill O’Brien. He was pretty much that Tom Brady tree and everything relied on the quarterback operation. So, with Monk, he’s giving a lot of responsibility to us and you got to own up to the responsibilities and the situations and what you decide to do on the field. And I think that’s something that I’m very comfortable with.”
It’s been a while since you’ve been out on the field competing. How do you feel?
“I’m doing well. I’m doing great.”
When you look at the way your first three seasons here went, if you get back out onto the field as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, do you think you’ll have a better opportunity to be successful given everything around you given the Todd Monken system, given the supporting cast? Do you think this will be a chance to show who the real Deshaun Watson is here?
“Of course. The only reason I really say that is because it’s the next opportunity. I can’t look in the past. I can’t look in the rearview mirror. You know, obviously you know those situations, and you have those experiences, but at the same time, you got to keep pushing forward. So, my mentality is one day at a time and “4OVE”. I think you guys seen it on social media, focus only on victories every day. So that’s all I focus on, is just being able to keep pushing forward and keep stepping forward and standing 10 toes down, then I’ll be good.”
I know you said you didn’t have any doubts that you’d never play again, but were there any doubts about whether you would get another chance in Cleveland to be the starting quarterback?
“No. And that’s just from internal conversations.”
Have you thought about what you want to do be doing in 2027?
“I don’t know. I’m trying to play a full season. I’m just trying to be healthy so I can play all 17-plus games. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen at that time.”
Do you think that you’re there to yet to play a full season? Do you feel ready?
“Almost definitely. I do.”
Even though you’ve only been able to play 19 games as a Brown, you’re the longest-tenured offensive player on the team. Does that feel strange to you at all?
“It was a lot of new faces walking in. So, it was different. But I think you can take that wisdom and just kind of those experiences we’ve been going through and try to put some positivity in all the young guys and new guys. And with those guys not really having those experiences that we had the last couple years, it’s fresh minds and fresh opportunities. So, I think those guys are coming out here and competing. They don’t really know what happened, but it’s a new opportunity for us to be able to change that narrative.”
So much time off last year to think, to grow, you got married. Things are different. How are you a different person than you were the last time we saw you here playing football?
“I think the biggest thing is, I just kind of – I’m an introvert now, so I don’t really get into all the outside stuff and noise like I used to. I used to be a social person back in the day and kind of more open. But now I just kind of watch my surroundings and my moves and just kind of focus on the things that I need to focus on, and that’s the ones that I really got love for and people that support me.”
Knowing how difficult physically it is to play a full season, would you say you’re at 100%? Were you dealing with anything from the shoulder surgery back when you made those seven starts in 2024?
“I can say that now. I’m fully healthy, ready to go. This last year I was able to conquer that. And I’ll just say I haven’t really been 100% since that Tennessee game in ’23.”
What makes Todd Monken unique in terms of the coaches you’ve had and worked with just specifically how he deals with quarterbacks?
“I think what makes him unique is that he’s worked with so many different guys. So, it’s not just a dual-threat guy or a pocket passer, whatever category you want to put on a quarterback. I think he’s just open to being able to relate to the players. And I think from my experience the last couple weeks is that I think being at Georgia, being at the college level, you kind of got to be more player-led because those guys are really looking up to you. But when you get to this level, he can relate to everyone. He can communicate with everyone. He can socialize with everyone. And I think that’s been a plus for this locker room, especially for the young guys.”
You can’t turn back time. But given all you’ve been through, are you in a better place now than when you first arrived to Cleveland before the injuries?
“Of course, there was a lot going on. So, yeah, I’m in a way better space and I’ve matured and I’m in a great position. And again, like, I’m in a great space. I’m happy, so enjoying life.”
We didn’t get the chance to talk to you obviously last year, but we heard about some of your impact behind the scenes. Now you’re in a direct competition with Shedeur. What’s your relationship been like with him from last year when he got here to now, now that you guys are out there competing?
“I mean, it’s been good. I think from the time he got drafted, the relationships and conversations has been growing, even during the pre-draft. And I’ve known the Sanders family — I’ve known his brother all the way back when he was at SMU. Coach Chad Morris was the coach there. I used to go out there and hang out with the team and his brother was one of the players. So, me and his family got a good relationship and, you know, we always just try to pull for each other. So, we both have the opportunity to go out there and put out the best product for the team and let Monken and the organization choose who goes out there, and we’re going to support each other.”
How helpful has it been not only learning the new offense and working with the offensive staff, but also getting the chance to be back on the field?
“It’s been awesome. It’s been great. Especially being off the field for the last year and a half, two years. Anytime you get the opportunity to go out there and just compete and just cut it loose has been awesome. So, I think the biggest thing for me is just being out there, going out there and just reacting, cutting it loose. Don’t get too worried about making mistakes. That’s part of the game, part of this period where we’re in. So again, I’m having fun. I’m enjoying the guys. I’m enjoying the locker room. I’m hanging out with them outside the building. It’s been a good nine, 10 weeks, for sure.”
Do you feel like you would be equipped to emotionally handle the cheers that will probably be out there for Shedeur in the event that you’re out there starting? Do you feel like you’re up for whatever’s going to come if you win the starting job?
“Like I said, I can’t control what the fans and how they, you know, approach me or approach any other person that walks out there. At the end of the day, when I step in between the lines, I gotta lock in on the task at hand. And that’s just winning and being successful. So, my mentality is in between the lines – block out the good or the bad, whatever comes with it, and just go out there and execute and play at a high level and try my best to win the game for us.”
How satisfying would it be for you, Deshaun, if you could replicate that amazing 2020 season after everything you’ve been through?
“I’m not trying to really replicate 2020. I’m a different person. I’m older, more wise. So, I think at the same time, I know everyone wants to, we’re on the clock on that, but we can’t do that. So, at the end of the day, I just got to focus on being the best product and being the best player I can for Deshaun Watson as a Cleveland Brown player. So that’s all I’m focused on.”
Last year at the owner’s meetings, Jimmy Haslam was talking about the struggles of the team and said the trade for you was a big swing and a miss. And a couple months ago he said maybe he shouldn’t have used those exact comments. Did you hear those comments? Did you have any reaction? And how would you describe the nature of the relationship with the organization, especially given how the past couple years have gone?
“I mean, the relationship is great. I mean, Dee and Jimmy, they were at my wedding, we talk all the time. He calls me whenever, you know, things happen and things like that. One of my favorite baseball players that I’ve been watching is Bryce Harper. Sometimes he swings, but he stands back up and he gets another opportunity and he hits a home run. So, you never know when the opportunity might show up and that’s what I have right now.”
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