Deshaun Watson calls QB1 narrative media-driven: not about 400 yards and 5 TDs
Deshaun Watson is not buying the premise. Asked Wednesday whether he needs a big game to keep the Browns' starting job into the Week 3 home opener, the quarterback said that framing comes from the outside, not the building. Wat…
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Deshaun Watson is not buying the premise. Asked Wednesday whether he needs a big game to keep the Browns' starting job into the Week 3 home opener, the quarterback said that framing comes from the outside, not the building.
MySportsUpdate (@MySportsUpdate): #Browns QB Deshaun Watson says the idea that he needs a good game to remain the QB1 for the Week 3 home opener is media-driven: "I think the media has this expectation that I'm supposed to throw for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns every week."
Watson expanded on the point with reporters, saying his focus is on playing well enough to win rather than chasing a stat line. Head coach Todd Monken backed him in his own remarks on Wednesday, saying he expects Watson to play well and pointing to stretches in the opener when the offense operated the way the staff wants.
The context is unforgiving: Watson finished 16-of-22 for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 34-10 loss to Jacksonville, and he has still never thrown for 300 yards in a game as a Brown. Monken named him the starter Aug. 24 over Shedeur Sanders, and Sunday's trip to Tampa Bay is the next data point. Watson's message is that the evaluation is about wins, not weekly box-score theater.