The Cleveland Browns are 2-1 in the 2026 season and are set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. They’ve had a lot of success on TNF recently, and a win would not be a surprise.
Starting at quarterback for the Browns is Deshaun Watson. After years of looking like a liability, he’s seemingly turned things around this season and is looking much better. Things are going so well that the narrative has seemingly completely shifted.
According to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, Watson’s hot start has led the Browns to potentially change their minds about Watson. While not a long-term option, there’s a real chance Watson never loses the QB1 job in 2026, unlike what most expected before the season.
Browns might’ve changed their minds with Deshaun Watson in 2026
“While team sources indicated that Watson’s performance through three games hasn’t convinced the Browns to consider Watson the long-term answer, Cleveland’s surprising start has shifted the conversation inside the building to whether the 31-year-old passer and the Browns can build short-term momentum,” Oyefusi writes.
This report from Oyefusi reveals a very interesting take on Watson’s future with the team. While being the starter beyond 2026 seems unlikely, as the Browns probably want to find a rookie quarterback to build a long-term contender, the short-term could look different.
Coming into the 2026 NFL season, the Browns were seemingly going to stick by Watson for the first two weeks and reevaluate afterwards.
He had an up-and-down start to the year, but a Week 2 win kept his job intact for Week 3. Watson then won in Week 3 in the home opener over the Carolina Panthers, and now has the Browns reconsidering their plan.
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Instead of handing the keys to Shedeur Sanders or even Dillon Gabriel after Week 4, when he’s eligible to come off injured reserve, Watson might be sticking as the starter for the foreseeable future.
It might only be for the remainder, or most of, the 2026 NFL season, but it appears Watson’s hot start, leading the Browns to a 2-1 record heading into Week 4, has the Browns open to keeping him as QB1 for the 2026 season.
Obviously, if he goes a few weeks with some poor performances, then the Browns could make a switch. They’re not locked into Watson as the starter.
But his strong play to begin the season has opened the door for Watson to secure the Browns’ QB1 job, so long as he isn’t playing horrible football.
