​Aug 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks to pass during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. © Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesDeshaun Watson’s return to Cleveland’s home field was meant to represent another phase of his redemption. However, he was offered a reminder of how far his relationship with Browns fans has fallen.John Middlekauff Sees a Breaking Point for Deshaun Watson in ClevelandNearly two years after his last appearance at the stadium, Watson walked onto the field Saturday against the Buffalo Bills and was greeted with loud boos. The reaction followed him through the third quarter and grew louder as Cleveland’s offense had a hard time in a 31-7 preseason loss.Watson finished 5 of 12 for 36 yards with an interception.For a quarterback under microscopic review, it was not the kind of performance that was going to quiet the crowd.Watson, however, did not believe the boos were simply about his play.“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance. It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think that’s a disrespectful thing,” Watson said after the game.BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM:PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft SimulatorThe comments come amid a difficult stretch for Watson, whose time in Cleveland has never matched the expectations that came with his signing.The Browns sent three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to Houston for Watson in 2022. Cleveland then gave him a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. Years later, that gamble has produced only 19 starts.Watson missed a lot of time during his Cleveland tenure and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2024. Before that injury, his play had already been cause of concern. PFSN gave him a 59.9 grade on its QB Impact Metric that season.START PREPARING:PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft SimulatorHis return Saturday did little to change the conversation.Watson entered after Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with him for the starting job. Sanders completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, a touchdown and an interception.The contrast was hard for the crowd to ignore. It was also difficult for analysts to ignore.John Middlekauff, a former Philadelphia Eagles scout, said Saturday felt like a possible breaking point for the Browns.“I think yesterday was a tipping point. You can’t have a guy that your entire fan base just despises personally and professionally.”He talked about the contract, the QB’s injury history, his off-field controversies, and the way all of those factors have combined to create an increasingly difficult situation for Cleveland.Watson faced dozens of civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct and sexual assault during his time in Houston. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges in 2022. The NFL later suspended him for 11 games and fined him $5 million after an investigation into whether he v