John Fanta Laughs At Deshaun Watson Narratives After Week 1

Taking to X after the game, John Fanta declared that Deshaun Watson might not even make it to Week 3 and the Browns' home opener with his starting job.

by Tzvi Machlin

Sep 14, 2026

Sports announcer John Fanta.

It’s a good thing that NBC reporter and Cleveland native John Fanta wasn’t on the call for today’s Jaguars-Browns game because he probably wouldn’t have been able to avoid throwing expletives around after today’s performance by Browns QB Deshaun Watson.

Watson’s first start since 2024 was one to forget. He had just 205 yards, a fumble and an interception in a 34-10 loss.

Taking to X after the game, Fanta declared that Watson might not even make it to Week 3 and the Browns’ home opener with his starting job. He joked that if he has a similar game next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the league office itself might “make a phone call” and insist on a change.

“It’s kind of funny to me that people are acting like Deshaun Watson is playing for his job next week,” Fanta wrote. “If he is anything close to today — and nothing suggests he won’t be — there is no world where he is starting the home opener. I actually think the NFL would make a phone call.”

Oct 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Watson under fire

Fanta isn’t even close to being the only person complaining about Watson after today. Fans pointed to everything from his poor numbers to the turnovers to his well-documented past as reasons that head coach Todd Monken should take the starting job from him today:

“115 yards of total offense before garbage time,” one user remarked.

“Are we trying to help Watson with something? Or are we trying to do what’s best for the Browns moving forward? Because Watson is not the future,” another declared. “They need to see what Shadeur is before next draft. Period. Quit wasting time on Watson.”

“In the first quarter, Deshaun Watson looked exactly how I told you he did in training camp,” a third remarked.

Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Watson was already a controversial pick to be the starting quarterback at the end of the Browns’ preseason. Many fans did (and still do) believe that Shedeur Sanders should have been the starter.

Well, if Watson has one more game or even one more half like he did against the Jaguars today, the Sanders fans may just get their wish.