Deshaun Watson Throws Interception On Browns' First Drive Of The Season, Fumbles 2 Possessions Later

This is not the start the Browns were looking for.

On Cleveland's first possession of the 2026 NFL season, Deshaun Watson threw an interception. With 12:17 remaining in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Browns faced second-and-5 from the Jacksonville 28-yard line.

Watson looked downfield to receiver Jerry Jeudy, who was on a curl route near the 10-yard line. Instead, he found Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, who intercepted the pass and returned it to the Jacksonville 41.

Oluokun was lurking in underneath coverage, and Watson didn't appear to see him. He threw the ball directly to the Jaguars linebacker.

Eight plays later, Trevor Lawrence found Parker Washington for a touchdown, and the Jaguars took an early 7-0 lead.

The pass was Watson's third of the season and his third since 2024. Watson's career was derailed that season by a combination of injury and poor play, and he hadn't played an NFL snap since until Sunday.

Two possessions later and with the Jaguars holding a 14-0 lead, Watson fumbled while being sacked. The Browns recovered the ball, but the play exacerbated a poor start for the veteran quarterback.

By halftime, the Jaguars were rolling to a 24-0 lead, and concerns about another poor season in Cleveland were amped up to full volume by halftime of Week 1. Lawrence had three touchdown passes against a hapless Browns defense, and Jacksonville had outgained Cleveland in total offense 166 yards to 22.

Cleveland’s best shot at scoring on a no-huddle drive at the end of the half was derailed by a pair of holding penalties that pushed them back from the verge of field-goal range.

As for Watson, he was 8 for 12 in the first half for 75 yards with 1 interception, 1 fumble and 2 sacks taken.

Watson won the job in training camp over second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who demonstrated nothing in his rookie campaign that he was capable of playing as an NFL starter. It's been rough going for Watson since.

Watson, who joined the Browns in 2022 on the heels of a scandal in which he was accused of sexual misconduct by 27 women, was greeted with boos by Cleveland fans in the preseason. He responded to the boos by chastising Browns fans to reporters.

Sunday's game is in Jacksonville, or he likely would have heard more boos before halftime.

If his play doesn't improve Sunday, he's likely setting himself up for a cold reception in Cleveland for the Browns' home opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27. That is, if he’s still holding on the job by then.