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Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has called the booing he heard from the team’s own fans during Saturday’s home loss to Buffalo “disrespectful” and “personal.”

Watson, who has a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans because of injuries, off-field issues – including an NFL suspension in 2022 – and a massive, $230m contract, was booed repeatedly during the second half of the 31-7 loss to the Bills.

Watson was just 5 of 12 passing for 36 yards and threw an interception during the preseason defeat. He came off the bench in place of Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with Watson for the starting job. Browns head coach Todd Monken has yet to decide which QB will start the season opener in Jacksonville on 13 September.

In 2022, the Browns sent a package that included three first-round picks to the Houston Texans in exchange for the quarterback, who had been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. The Browns then rewarded Watson, at the time one of the best quarterbacks in the league, with a $230m fully guaranteed contract. Watson never faced criminal charges over the sexual assault allegations but the NFL suspended him for 11 games of the 2022 season after its own investigation.

Cleveland’s faith in Watson has not been rewarded. He is yet to complete a full season with the Browns due to injury and suspension and has consistently been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league in QBR. He has thrown 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his four seasons with the Browns (20 quarterbacks threw more than 19 touchdowns in the 2025 NFL season alone). They have played just one postseason game since his arrival, which they lost, despite boasting one of the best defenses in the league. Watson missed that game through injury.

Saturday’s game was his first at home since he tore his achilles tendon in October 2024, when some Browns fans cheered him sustaining a potential career-ending injury.

“It has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said of the boos. “It’s a little bit personal. I think that’s a disrespectful thing. I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. Just move on.”

Watson hasn’t forgotten the cheers that greeted his injury in 2024.

“Last time I played on this field, I tore my achilles and that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said. “So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city and they cheer.”

Watson said he’s not sure if he can win back Browns fans.

“When I’m in public, no one’s mentioned anything,” he said. “Because this is social media, players can’t respond back. And then in the stadium, players can’t respond back. So I get it. I understand it. So it is what it is.

“It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love in road games than I do home games. So if it is my spot and he [Monken] does make me the (starter), maybe it’s 17 away games then.”

Last year, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted his team’s decision to acquire Deshaun Watson has been a “big swing and miss”.