Overview
- In Cleveland’s preseason loss to Buffalo on Saturday, Sanders started and completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown while Watson relieved in the second half and finished 5 of 12 for 36 yards with an interception.
- Loud boos greeted Watson when he entered Huntington Bank Field and after his interception, a reaction he called “disrespectful” and linked to fans cheering when he tore his Achilles in 2024.
- Sanders publicly defended Watson’s dignity after the game and said he did not appreciate the crowd’s reaction toward a teammate.
- Coach Todd Monken has not yet named a Week 1 starter and said he expects a decision before the preseason finale, but Watson’s on-field struggles, the intensified fan backlash and the cost of his fully guaranteed deal constrain the team’s options.
- Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has included an 11-game suspension, repeated season-ending injuries and limited starts, so the team’s choice between riding with Sanders or keeping Watson on the roster will shape fan relations, game-day optics and Cleveland’s salary-cap strategy.