Deshaun Watson’s Cleveland Browns tenure appeared to be approaching another crossroads after a difficult start to the 2026 NFL season. Three weeks later, the quarterback’s situation has changed significantly.
Watson remains Cleveland’s starter, and consecutive fourth-quarter comebacks have helped the Browns move to 2-1 heading into a pivotal AFC North matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While Watson’s overall production remains a work in progress, his ability to make important plays late in games has given the Browns reason to continue with him at quarterback.
Deshaun Watson’s performance with the Browns in 2026
Through three games, Watson has completed 68.3% of his passes for 587 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
His 62.3 QBR ranks 15th among 30 qualifying quarterbacks, while his fourth-quarter QBR of 95.1 ranks among the league’s best.
Watson has also contributed with his legs. He has rushed for 105 yards, which ranks fifth among quarterbacks, an encouraging sign after returning from a significant Achilles injury.
However, his numbers also show why questions remain about his long-term future in Cleveland.
The Browns have averaged only 18 points per game, ranking 24th in the NFL, and have yet to produce 300 total yards in a game this season.
Watson has been particularly slow during the opening three quarters. His 30.9 QBR before the fourth quarter ranks 27th, while his average depth of target is only 6.2 yards, a career-low figure.
Watson’s two comeback wins changed the conversation
The biggest development in Watson’s Cleveland Browns performance has been his ability to respond when games are on the line.
Cleveland opened the season with a 34-10 loss to Jacksonville, and that performance raised immediate questions about whether Watson would keep his starting job.
Head coach Todd Monken continued to support him, however, and Watson responded in Week 2 against Tampa Bay.
The Browns trailed by 10 points in the second half before Watson helped engineer a comeback. His late touchdown pass gave Cleveland a 23-19 victory and secured his first win as a starter since September 2024.
Watson then delivered another game-winning drive against Carolina in Week 3.
The Browns defeated the Panthers 21-18, giving Watson two fourth-quarter comeback victories in consecutive weeks.
That stretch has helped quiet the immediate quarterback controversy.
Why Cleveland continues to trust Watson
Watson won a quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders during the offseason and training camp.
The Browns had drafted three quarterbacks over the previous two drafts, including Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, while Taylen Green was selected in the sixth round in 2026.
Despite an inconsistent preseason, Monken ultimately chose Watson because of his experience, athletic ability and overall body of work.
The coach has also emphasized that Watson had not played regularly for an extended period and needed time to become comfortable with Cleveland’s offensive system.
That patience has started to produce results.
Watson’s recent performances have not necessarily answered every question about his future, but they have provided Cleveland with enough evidence to continue giving him opportunities.
Watson still has areas to improve
The recent comeback victories should not obscure the Browns’ offensive struggles.
Cleveland has started slowly in all three games, and Watson’s conservative passing approach has limited the offense’s explosive potential.
His 6.2-yard average depth of target is among the lowest marks in the league. He has also posted a 16% off-target rate, showing that accuracy and consistency remain areas to monitor.
The Browns’ rushing attack has also struggled.
Quinshon Judkins has received the overwhelming majority of the team’s running-back carries but is averaging only 3.0 yards per attempt. Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the NFL in rushing production and has yet to record a rushing touchdown.
That puts additional pressure on Watson to create enough offense through the passing game and his mobility.
Deshaun Watson vs. Steelers is the next test
Watson now faces a significant challenge against Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football.
The Browns and Steelers enter the matchup at 2-1, with the winner moving into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Watson has struggled historically against Pittsburgh. He is 0-3 against the Steelers, including two games with Cleveland in which he completed 59.4% of his passes and threw three touchdowns against three interceptions.
This matchup therefore represents another opportunity for Watson to show whether his improved fourth-quarter performances can translate against a division rival.
The Steelers are coming off a 30-27 victory over Cincinnati, with Aaron Rodgers throwing for 292 yards and Jaylen Warren rushing for 127 yards.
Cleveland’s defense will have its own challenge, but Watson’s performance could play a major role in determining whether the Browns can extend their winning streak.
What does Watson’s future with Cleveland look like?
The Browns have remained publicly noncommittal about Watson’s long-term future.
Cleveland could face a substantial financial consequence if it moves on from him, while the franchise also owns two first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That gives the Browns another potential route to address the quarterback position in the future.
For now, however, Watson remains the starter.
His overall Cleveland numbers still fall well short of the expectations created by his contract, but his recent performances have changed the immediate conversation. Rather than discussing an imminent benching, Cleveland is now evaluating whether Watson can build on his late-game success.
The next stage will be consistency.
If Watson can improve his early-game efficiency, generate more explosive plays and continue making decisive throws in high-leverage situations, the Browns will have more information to consider when evaluating their quarterback situation.
For the moment, Deshaun Watson’s Cleveland Browns performance is a mixture of encouraging late-game production and continued offensive limitations. His next opportunity comes against Pittsburgh, with the AFC North lead at stake.
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