As the 2026 season kicks off and the Cleveland Browns' perpetual quarterback carousel spins, next up in the big chair -- the one with no seat belt -- are a new head coach who's an older guy and a quarterback who's not new but hopes for a fresh start.

Deshaun Watson will enter the 2026 season under plenty of pressure as he prepares to start for the Cleveland Browns. According to longtime Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, the reaction from Cleveland fans during the preseason may have affected the quarterback more than he would like to admit.

The Browns quarterback, whose contract expires after this season, has played only 19 games since the trade from Houston.

Deshaun Watson will make his first regular-season start in nearly 700 days when the Browns open the season at the Jaguars. He talked about it Sept. 9.

Watson, who is back after a serious Achilles injury, has been named as the Browns' starting quarterback ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Deshaun Watson will make his first start in 22 months for the Browns on Sunday in Jacksonville. It has been nearly six years since Watson looked like the player the Browns thought they were acquiring in that 2022 trade.

Deshaun Watson's $230 million fully guaranteed contract has crippled the Cleveland Browns' salary cap, with an $86.2 million dead cap hit looming in 2027.