Deshaun Watson’s return to Huntington Bank Stadium was met with boos from fans still in the stands on a rainy Saturday in Cleveland.
Watson entered the Browns’ preseason game against the Buffalo Bills to start the second half, and fans made their feelings known as the quarterback took the field.
Watson finished 5-of-12 passing for 35 yards with an interception as the Browns lost 31-7.
The appearance was another step in Watson’s return to the field after his Achilles injury kept him out for much of the previous season. But his return was overshadowed by the reaction from the Cleveland crowd.
Starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who played in the first half, said he did not agree with the fans’ treatment of Watson.
“I don’t really like overall whenever the whole stadium is booing and stuff when Deshaun gets in ’cause he’s going out there, he’s trying to put in work, too, just how we all are,” Sanders said to sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala on the News 5 Cleveland broadcast. “Just being a person, I don’t really like that, and I don’t really respect that.”
Sanders acknowledged that fans are entitled to their opinions about Watson but said he did not believe the quarterback should be booed while trying to perform.
“However you all feel is how you all feel about an individual, about a person, but when somebody’s going out there trying to do their best, then it doesn’t really sit right with me overall,” Sanders said.
Watson’s performance did little to change the tone inside the stadium. He played into the fourth quarter before being relieved by Dillon Gabriel.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns fans boo Deshaun Watson during preseason game
Reporting by Dan Kadar, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Kadar, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
