Cleveland Browns make surprise Week 2 quarterback decision after Deshaun Watson's awful start to the season

Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken is sticking with embattled veteran Deshaun Watson at quarterback after a miserable Week 1 loss that left the Dawg Pound calling for second-year passer Shedeur Sanders.

'It's only been two weeks that he's gotten all the [practice] reps,' Monken told reporters of Watson. 'And there were some really good things on film – some things that you can build on.'

Monken was referring to the 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Watson started his first game in two years only to throw an interception on the opening drive.

'There were some [other things] that — you know, operationally, we've got to get better at,' the first-year Browns coach continued. 'There's concepts that, there's only so many looks you get from week to week, be it red zone concepts, third-down concepts.'

Watson's afternoon wasn't all bad in Jacksonville. He completed 16-of-22 for 205 yards with one touchdown, although Watson did take five sacks on the day.

'I did think that when he had time, when he understood the concepts, he didn't play tentative, that he let it rip,' Monken added. 'Even the touchdown at the end, sure that was garbage time, but that was on their [No.] 1 corner. That was one of their starters out there. And that was a communication between him and the receiver. So, there were a lot of things to build on.'

ESPN's Adam Schefter and others have since speculated that Monken could sit Watson, who famously arrived in Cleveland amid a cloud of sexual assault allegations and an 11-game suspension. Watson denied the claims before settling 26 of 27 lawsuits.

Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, is the popular pick among fans to be Browns starter, which isn't lost on Watson. The 31-year-old starter already had a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans due to injuries, his 2022 suspension and his $230 million contract. 

But things only got worse after he was booed by Browns supporters during the preseason.

'It has nothing to do about the performance,' he told reporters afterwards. 'It's a little bit personal. I think that's a disrespectful thing. I'm going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. Just move on.

'Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles and that same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt.

'So, what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer.'

The calls for Sanders have only grown louder since Sunday.

'I couldn't believe Watson started the second half,' one fan wrote. 'No way Shedeur can be worse.'

Several supporters felt as though Monken will promote Sanders for the home opener against the Carolina Panthers: 'Deshaun for Weeks 1-2 and then Shedeur for the home opener. It's always been the plan.'

The Browns will be back in Florida on Sunday to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.