Orlovsky says Browns' Watson decision left him 'shocked'

Cleveland opens Sept. 13 at Jacksonville

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 241 min read

"I was shocked that they went with Deshaun Watson." @danorlovsky7 reacts to the Browns naming Deshaun Watson the Week 1 Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Watson will start Week 1 after Cleveland's preseason quarterback competition. The decision landed two days after a 31-7 exhibition loss.

Why it matters: Watson carries a $40.9 million cap hit this season, adding financial weight to his place atop the depth chart. Saturday's home boos leave his first regular-season series under immediate scrutiny.

By the numbers: Watson completed 5 of 12 passes and threw one interception Saturday. His three post-trade PFF grades have remained below 70 after a 92.4 peak.

What to watch: Cleveland's remaining preseason work will show how the first-team offense is organized around Watson. His next competitive test comes in the season opener.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-08-24T20:43:09.168485+00:00

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