Todd Monken saw something in Deshaun Watson we all laughed off (and he nailed it)

Todd Monken had us all rolling our eyes back in the summer. No one could make sense of Deshaun Watson, entering his age-31 season off a twice-torn Achilles tendon, being named the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback for the 2026 season.

Monken’s justification only made it worse. 

He continually went back to Watson’s superpower — his ability to weaponize his legs in high-leverage situations, such as escaping pressure and taking off on designed rushes. For years, Browns fans saw Monken lean on Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat powers as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. The idea that Watson, in his first real game action since October 2024, could give the Browns one-tenth of that threat was comical when he was officially named the Week 1 starter on Aug. 24.

I was dead wrong. We all were.

During the preseason, Browns fans booed Watson loudly, letting him and ownership know where they stood on the decision to run back a failed experiment one last time.

But the stadium was a lot fuller for Sunday’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers — and the reaction from Browns fans was unmistakably positive.

The craziest part is that none of it has anything to do with Watson’s arm, which is why Cleveland committed $230 million fully guaranteed to the QB back in 2022. It barely has anything to do with the play calls Monken is making.

It’s all about Watson going full Clark Kent, leaning on his legs and pure instincts, and making winning plays when the Browns need them most.

As Zac Jackson of The Athletic wrote this week, that’s been a wild sight to see.

“Watson’s getting cheers, then getting booed briefly in Sunday’s third quarter, then getting a hero’s reception after a big fourth quarter,” Jackson wrote. “Monken has consistently said since the spring his quarterback would scramble to create more, and Watson has made that work.”

Deshaun Watson's legs have become the unlikely weapon Todd Monken promised they would be

Watson and Shedeur Sanders are almost polar opposites at this point in terms of play style. Watson’s the dink-and-dunk veteran who protects the football — he’s gone 79 consecutive passes without an interception, dating back to Week 1 — and picks his spots down the field. Sanders has more of an attack-first mentality, with a propensity to hold onto the football a beat longer and make things happen.

It was hard to fathom Watson moving better than the 24-year-old Sanders, but the plays he’s been making on the move have put that conversation to bed. 

Monken knew what his offense needed. Why he felt Watson gave the team its best chance to win is becoming more clear by the game.

Per Jackson, Watson was pressured on 54% of his dropbacks in Sunday’s win against the Panthers. That’s an unacceptable number that typically leaves an offense powerless.

Watson overcame it by tossing the cape on, extending plays, and making something out of nothing.

“Starting on Cleveland’s first series, when he spun out of what seemed like a sure sack by Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig, Watson evaded the rush and extended plays on multiple occasions,” Jackson wrote.

That spin move on Moehrig was the play that got the home fans roaring — in a good way — for their much-maligned quarterback. But it wasn’t his best escape act on Sunday.

Deshaun Watson's go-ahead touchdown to Harold Fannin Jr. was exactly what Todd Monken envisioned back in August

On the go-ahead touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:48 remaining in regulation, Watson felt the pocket collapsing from both sides, stepped up to avoid the pressure, scrambled to his left with his eyes downfield, and found Fannin coming uncovered over the middle.

That certainly wasn’t how Monken drew it up. Watson set that play up earlier in the drive with a 21-yard scramble on third-and-3.

This probably isn’t sustainable. The Browns can’t keep shooting themselves in the foot with penalties. They can’t average 3 yards per carry when they hand it off to their top running back. They can’t continue to average less than 5 yards per pass attempt, and complete only four total passes to wide receivers, like they did against the Panthers on Sunday.

It’s been ugly. It’s been unorthodox. It's been wildly entertaining.

The Browns are above .500 for the first time since their wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans in 2023, and their veteran quarterback whom everyone but the head coach thought was washed — self included — is right in the middle of it. 

What a time.

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