Deshaun Watson may be feeling good after winning the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback competition over Shedeur Sanders, but his first month as QB1 has been anything but quiet.
Just two days after being named the starter, Watson was cited for speeding, prompting a reaction from Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
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Watson was cited on August 26 for allegedly driving 86 mph in a 60 mph zone, but he pleaded not guilty in Cleveland Municipal Court on Wednesday.
Watson’s bench trial is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, which falls on a regular workday for him. Given the circumstances, it may make more sense for him to accept the ticket and put the situation behind him.
In the latest episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, former NBA star Joe Johnson discussed the situation and suggested that Watson is currently under a “microscope.” While Johnson remained optimistic about Watson’s chance to prove that he can still perform at a high level, he indicated that he was not particularly concerned about the speeding citation.
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However, co-host Shannon Sharpe offered a more direct perspective on the situation.
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“He understands it comes with the territory,” Sharpe said. “So Deshaun, if anybody can give you any advice, ‘Bro, I know you’re probably in a hurry to go somewhere, but just be careful… They’re not giving you no warning.'”
The citation came just a few days after what had been one of the lowest points of Watson’s Cleveland tenure. During the Browns’ 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, Watson was repeatedly booed by Cleveland fans, making the frustration between him and the fan base increasingly apparent.
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Watson described the booing as a “disrespectful thing” and said he would keep his personal feelings about the situation between himself and his family. At the time, some believed the incident could potentially influence Cleveland’s quarterback competition and open the door for Sanders to win the starting job.
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Watson ultimately became the Browns’ starter and later apologized for his outburst. He is now preparing to make his first regular-season start since suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in October 2024.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season after suffering another Achilles setback and undergoing a second surgery in January 2025. On Wednesday, he acknowledged the significance of the opportunity ahead of him as he prepares to return to regular-season action after nearly two years away.
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“Me being in the last year of my deal and Year 10, I feel like this is my opportunity to be able to go and showcase that I can still play in this league,” Watson said of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. “I want to continue to play in this league. So, this is my opportunity.”
Suspensions and injuries have restricted Watson to only 19 games since the Browns acquired him in 2022. Watson is now hoping to move past the setbacks that have defined much of his Cleveland tenure and show that he can once again reach the elite level he displayed earlier in his career.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
