The Cleveland Browns have put their immediate quarterback debate on hold after Deshaun Watson led them to a second straight win after trailing in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Watson’s 8-play, 65-yard drive against the Carolina Panthers ended with a go-ahead touchdown to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with less than two minutes left and turned the talk about Cleveland’s quarterback from a weekly personnel question into a major opportunity against Pittsburgh this Thursday night.
Locked On Browns host Spencer German argued that Watson’s late-game execution, rather than an otherwise uneven offensive performance, has earned the veteran more time as the starter. German said the discussion around backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders can wait after Cleveland moved to 2-1 with consecutive one-score victories.
Watson completed 16 of 30 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns in the 21-18 win over Carolina, with both scores going to Fannin. He also threw two touchdown passes in a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. The back-to-back wins do not settle Cleveland’s long-term quarterback outlook, but they have changed the immediate calculus around making a change.
German said he did not view Watson’s starting status as a question even while head coach Todd Monken met with reporters after Sunday’s game. He projected that Watson has bought roughly a month of goodwill — unless the offense declines sharply over the next several weeks.
That makes Thursday night’s matchup more consequential for Watson and the Browns than a routine early-season game. Cleveland hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field, with both teams entering Week 4 at 2-1. A win would give the Browns an early AFC North tiebreaker edge and extend the momentum that has cooled the pressure around their starting quarterback.
Watson does not need to make the quarterback conversation disappear permanently Thursday. He needs to keep showing that Cleveland can trust him when the game tightens, because the Steelers present the first division test of a season that suddenly carries more weight.
Browns News and Notes
– The offensive line remains a work in progress. German pointed to penalties and missed assignments from offensive tackle Tytus Howard, while rookie tackles Spencer Fano and Austin Barber continue to adjust to NFL competition. He believes the group could still require additions next offseason despite the club’s extensive 2026 overhaul.
– Thursday’s Steelers game is Cleveland’s first AFC North matchup and its only scheduled primetime home game. The Browns can take an early division lead with a victory before the rest of the division plays that weekend.
More on the Cleveland Browns
- Shedeur Sanders Update Emerges After Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns’ Trade Decision
- Cleveland Browns Make Decision on Shedeur Sanders Amid NFL Trade Rumors
- Mason Graham Continues to get to the Quarterback, Records two More Sacks
- Stephen A. Smith Is ‘Really Happy’ for Deshaun Watson, With One Pointed Reminder
