Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Jameis Winston went off on the fans who cheered after Deshaun Watson suffered what is believed to be a season-ending Achilles tear.
Watson suffered the injury and had to be carted off during the second quarter of Sunday’s 21-14 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson left the game with a finger injury, forcing Jameis Winston to finish out the game.
It was the latest miserable chapter for a quarterback who isn’t exactly embraced by the Browns fanbase. During the pre-game player introductions, Browns fans booed Watson as he made his way onto the field, much to the chagrin of his backup.
And when he was down on the field with his Achilles injury, many spectators cheered:
The Deshaun Watson intro went well… pic.twitter.com/zTP5GzdKqa
— Cody Suek (@CodySuek) October 20, 2024
And when he was down on the field with his Achilles injury, many spectators cheered:
Disgusting: #Browns fans were CHEERING when Deshaun Watson went down with what’s believed to be a season-ending injury.
Automatically considered some of the worst fans in sports history. pic.twitter.com/Doryx0MUCI
— Blitz Alerts (@BlitzAlerts) October 20, 2024
Speaking to reporters after the game, Jameis Winston expressed disgust and disappointment with the Browns fans who booed Watson and cheered, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
“I am very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years. And he put his body and life on the line for this city. Every single day.
Regardless of your perception, regardless of what you thought should happen with him, he committed every single day that I’ve been here to be the best that he can be for this team…the way I was raised, I will never pull on a man when he’s down. But I will be the person to lift him up.”
#Browns Jameis Winston on fans cheering Deshaun Watson while he was down on the field with his season-ending torn Achilles pic.twitter.com/RphsiUMxG6
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 20, 2024
The Browns took a major risk two years ago when they acquired Watson in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns, even though he had been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. Watson was handed a $230 million fully guaranteed contract before playing a snap for the Browns, even with an 11-game suspension on the horizon.
With Watson likely done for the season, the Browns must choose between the more experienced Jameis Winston or the younger Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Browns Should Turn To Jameis Winston
The Browns are now 1-6 and well out of the postseason race. They already gave up on making the playoffs by trading star wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns, with more moves sure to follow.
This has been a miserable season for the Browns, but it’s worth giving Jameis Winston a chance to revive his career. He’s been one of the league’s better backups over the last three years, and the former first-overall pick might be able to provide shot-term stability at the game’s most important position.
