Browns fans booed Deshaun Watson in the second half of a preseason game against the Bills. On Sunday, they cheered him.
Watson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:48 left to lift the Browns to a 21-18 upset of the Panthers. He finished with 144 yards and two touchdowns, along with 45 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Winning makes everyone happy.
“It was great. It was amazing. I just wanted to finish the job for them,” Watson said of the fans, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. “There was one moment where I got a little teary-eyed, feeling that energy. I’ve put in so much work to get here, to be in this moment here and to be able to show I can finish these drives, and finish these games to get W’s for this city and this organization.
“This is what all the hard work, belief, prayers, everything that I have put myself through the last 22 months. To be able to stand in front of the crowd on that field and to finish the job. I want to keep improving and keep trying to get better each and every day, each week and we have a big one on Thursday [against the Steelers].”
After the home fans booed him last month, Watson made it worse by calling it “disrespectful” and “personal.” He apologized a few days later, saying his “emotions got the best of me.”
The only way to win them over was to play well and win, and Watson has done both.
The Browns are tied for first place with the other three teams in the division at 2-1, and Watson has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 587 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also has run for 105 yards.
He is the first Browns quarterback since Baker Mayfield in Weeks 14 and 15 of 2018 to lead game-winning touchdown drives in the fourth quarter of consecutive games, according to ESPN Research.
“We continued to feed off that energy of the crowd, and we wanted to make a special play,” Watson said. “I told the guys in the huddle, ‘Man, just [believe] in me and I’m going to use my legs.’ Whenever that play comes up, make that play, and Harold did.”
Browns Clips
It took a big drive in the fourth quarter, but the Browns were able to come back and defeat the Panthers to move to 2-1 on the young season.
Cleveland’s defense had kept Carolina out of the end zone all day until a drive midway through the fourth quarter, with Bryce Young hitting John Metchie for an 8-yard touchdown. That gave the Panthers a 18-13 lead with a failed two-point conversion.
But quarterback Deshaun Watson brought the Browns down the field in response. He briefly had to exit after he was hit hard on a play that was flagged for roughing the passer. But came right back in to deliver a 14-yard touchdown to Harold Fannin on third-and-10. He then hit Denzel Boston for a successful two-point conversion, giving Cleveland a three-point lead.
The Browns needed two defensive stops to seal it. But Ronnie Hickman intercepted Young to effectively end the game with about 10 seconds left in regulation.
Watson finished 16-of-30 for 144 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also had 45 yards rushing on 11 attempts.
Fannin caught seven passes for 51 yards with two TDs.
Young ended the game 26-of-48 for 291 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The Panthers played much of the game without Jalen Coker, who exited with a quad injury.
At a surprise 2-1, the Browns will quickly be back in action as they’ll host the division-rival Steelers on Sunday.
The 1-2 Panthers will host the Lions next Sunday night.
After getting their first win last week, the Browns have a halftime lead in their home opener.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson connected with tight end Harold Fannin for a 2-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, giving Cleveland a 10-3 lead.
The play came on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, capping a seven-play, 40-yard drive that began after a turnover on downs.
In his first game back in Cleveland since injuring his Achilles in 2024, Watson did not get booed as he took the field. He finished the first half 8-of-16 for 60 yards with a TD. He also had six carries for 25 yards.
Defensively, the Browns took their lead largely through defense. The club stopped Carolina on each of its first four third down attempts, and had a pair of fourth-down stops.
When the Panthers elected to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Cleveland 43, second-year defensive tackle Mason Graham got in the backfield for a sack and a turnover on downs.
Bryce Young came away from the play limping, but stayed in the game after the Fox broadcast showed him trying to walk it off on the sideline.
Andre Szmyt hit his 48-yard field goal attempt midway through the second quarter to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, the Panthers went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 40-yard line. But Young was pressured and the pass to Tommy Tremble was well short and incomplete for a turnover on downs.
Cleveland was able to fully capitalize on the opportunity with Watson’s touchdown pass to Harold Fannin.
The Panthers got on the board with a 35-yard field goal to effectively end the first half.
Penalties have been a big part of what’s kept the Panthers alive. Cleveland was flagged 10 times for 74 yards in the first half.
But the Browns will receive the second-half kickoff.
The last time Deshaun Watson took the field in Cleveland, there were cheers when he was carted off the field with what ended up being a torn Achilles.
On Sunday — his first regular-season appearance at Huntington Bank Field since 2024 — the reaction was much more muted.
As noted on the Fox broadcast, there was no big reaction from the crowd as Watson and the Cleveland offense took the field for its first drive.
That changed to cheers as Watson made something happen and scrambled for a first down on second-and-7 from the Cleveland 11. Then Watson was able to avoid a sack and scramble again for a 12-yard gain on third-and-6.
But Cleveland’s drive stalled on the next set of downs, with Watson throwing a pair of incompletions and then a check-down for 7 yards to bring up fourth-and-3.
While the Browns didn’t score on their first drive, it’s at least something that the quarterback wasn’t booed at home after last week’s victory over Tampa Bay.
Injuries to starting quarterbacks around the league have sparked a round of chatter about who teams might be able to pick up as another option.
The Browns pop up in those conversations because they have Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Taylen Green behind Deshaun Watson, but a report on Sunday says they aren’t looking to shake things up. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that they have no plans to trade Sanders or Gabriel.
Gabriel is currently on injured reserve, but will be eligible to be activated as soon as Week 5. Sanders has not seen any action so far this season and Green has been inactive each week.
The run of injuries underscore the value of strong depth as does the job Drew Lock did filling in for Sam Darnold the last two weeks. For now, the Browns are favoring that depth over a bid to acquire other assets.
Bills wide receiver DJ Moore hurt his shoulder in a Week 2 win over the Lions, but he had more than a week to recover from the injury and that was enough time for him to get cleared for action.
Moore is active for the Bills as they try to move to 3-0 on the season at home against the 0-2 Chargers. The Bills will also get defensive tackle Ed Oliver back in the lineup. Oliver missed the Lions game after injuring his hip in pregame warmups and was listed as questionable along with Moore and wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Coleman is also active for Buffalo while backup quarterback Trey Lance is active for the Chargers. DJ Uiagalelei was summoned from the practice squad as insurance after Lance was listed as questionable, but there will be no change behind Justin Herbert.
Chargers at Bills
Chargers: S Elijah Molden, QB DJ Uiagalelei, OL Alex Harkey, G Kayode Awosika, TE Charlie Kolar, WR Brenen Thompson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Bills: WR Skyler Bell, OL Jude Bowry, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL T.J. Sanders, LB Mike Danna, S Jalon Kilgore
Panthers at Browns
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, WR Xavier Legette, S Nick Scott, LB Devin Lloyd, OT Albert Reese, DT Cam Jackson
Browns: CB Tyson Campbell, QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Jets at Lions
Jets: WR Adonai Mitchell, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, TE Mason Taylor, RB Kene Nwangwu, CB Nahshon Wright, K Blake Grupe, LB Kiko Mauigoa
Lions: G Ben Bartch, TE Tyler Conklin, S Bishop Fitzgerald, DL Ahmed Hassanein, LB Devin White, DL Mekhi Wingo
Texans at Colts
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, CB Collin Wright, WR Nico Collins, G Ed Ingram, DE Jadeveon Clowney, OL Nate Thomas
Colts: WR Ashton Dulin, WR Darius Slayton, DE George Gumbs, G Dailton Tucker, RB DJ Giddens, QB Riley Leonard
Patriots at Jaguars
Patriots: S Craig Woodson, LB Dre’Mont Jones, QB Behren Morton, OT Dametrious Crownover, TE Eli Raridon, DT Leonard Taylor
Jaguars: WR CJ Williams, S Jalen Huskey, LB Jack Kiser, OL Daniel Faalele, DE Wesley Williams, DT Albert Regis
Chiefs at Dolphins
Chiefs: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier, DB Chamarri Conner, DE Jack Pyburn, OT Josh Simmons, DE Tyreke Smith
Dolphins: QB Brady Cook, WR Caleb Douglas, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Marcellus Dial, OL DJ Campbell, DL Rob Beal Jr., OL Chukweubuka Godrick
Titans at Giants
Titans: OL Atonio Mafi, DL Jackie Marshall, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DB Jaylon Jones, RB Michael Carter
Giants: RB Devin Singletary, TE Thomas Fidone, OL J.C. Davis, DL Josh Tupou, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis, CB Deonte Banks, S Tyler Nubin
Bengals at Steelers
Bengals: CB Josh Newton, C Connor Lew, OT Myles Hinton, TE Jack Endries, DT BJ Hill, DT Landon Robinson
Steelers: RB Rico Dowdle, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, CB Joey Porter Jr., RB Eli Heidenreich, DT Kevin Jobity Jr., DT Gabriel Rubio
Seahawks at Commanders
Seahawks: S Julian Love, S Ty Okada, DT Brandon Pili, QB Jalen Milroe, WR Montorie Foster, CB Avery Smith, LB Connor O’Toole
Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LB Frankie Luvu, LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste, G Sam Cosmi, TE Chig Okonkwo
A pair of Panthers wide receivers carry questionable tags into Sunday’s game in Cleveland and it looks like at least one of them will be able to play.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Jalen Coker is expected to play. Coker has been dealing with an ankle injury for the last couple of weeks and was limited in practice on Friday.
Xavier Legette was also limited on Friday after missing Thursday’s practice with a knee injury that popped up during the week. He is viewed as a game-time decision for the 1-1 Panthers.
The wideouts are the only questionable players for Carolina. Linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Nick Scott have been ruled out.
Linebacker Claudin Cherelus will miss at least four Panthers games due to the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 2.
Cherelus was ruled out for this week on Friday and he was placed on injured reserve Saturday. He had one tackle while playing 36 special teams snaps in the first two weeks of the season.
The Panthers filled the opening on their roster by signing linebacker Maema Njongmeta off of their practice squad. He had 10 tackles in 15 games for the Panthers last season.
The Panthers also elevated wide receiver Chris Moore and running back Anthony Tyus for Sunday’s game against the Browns. Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette are both listed as questionable at receiver while Tyus will help fill the void left by Jonathon Brooks’s move to injured reserve this week.
The Browns may be without two of their key defensive starters for their 2026 home opener against the Panthers.
Cleveland has listed cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Grant Delpit as questionable for Week 3.
Campbell had been limited on Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury. The team added a knee injury to the report on Friday, with Campbell again a limited participant.
Delpit was limited all week with a shoulder injury.
“They went through practice today and we’ll see where they’re at,” Monken said Friday, via Kelsey Russo of the team’s website. “They [did] a little work here post-practice, but we’re hopeful they’ll be able to go.”
Additionally, the Browns ruled out guard Teven Jenkins with a back injury. He did not practice this week.
Devin Lloyd won’t be winning back-to-back NFL defensive player of the year awards.
The Panthers linebacker was honored for his two-interception performance in last Sunday’s blowout win over the Falcons, but he will not be in the lineup against the Browns this weekend. Lloyd missed his third straight practice on Friday with a calf injury and the team has ruled him out.
Wide receivers Jalen Coker (ankle) and Xavier Legette (knee) returned for limited practices on Friday and are listed as questionable for Sunday.
Linebacker Claudin Cherelus (shoulder) and safety Nick Scott (rib) are the other two Panthers who have been ruled out this week.
