Deshaun Watson has hit back at Cleveland Browns fans after being booed during Saturday’s 31-7 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Browns quarterback said the reaction felt “personal” and “disrespectful.” Watson entered the game from the bench during the second half. He replaced Shedeur Sanders, who is also in the race to become Cleveland’s starting quarterback. Watson had a poor game against Buffalo. He completed only 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards. He also threw one interception. The Browns have not yet named their starting quarterback for the season opener. Head coach Todd Monken must decide who will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13. The boos added another layer to Watson’s difficult relationship with Browns fans. That relationship has been shaped by injuries, poor results and serious off-field issues. Watson joined Cleveland in 2022 after the Browns sent three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans. At the time, Watson was viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. The Browns then gave Watson a record deal worth $230 million. The contract was fully guaranteed. The move put huge pressure on Watson to deliver strong results. Watson was also facing sexual assault allegations from dozens of women. He did not face criminal charges over those claims. The NFL later suspended him for 11 games in 2022 after its own investigation. His time in Cleveland has been marked by injuries and poor play. Watson has not completed a full season with the Browns. He has also struggled to produce at the level expected from a quarterback with such a large contract. In four seasons with Cleveland, Watson has thrown 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. The Browns have reached the postseason only once since he joined the team. They lost that playoff game, with Watson missing it because of injury. Saturday’s game was also important because it was Watson’s first home appearance since October 2024. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals that season. Some Browns fans cheered when Watson suffered that injury. The reaction has remained in his mind. Watson said the latest boos were not simply about his performance against Buffalo. He pointed to the earlier reaction to his injury as a key reason for his feelings. He said he remembered the crowd cheering when he was hurt. He questioned why fans would react that way to a player representing their own city. Watson also said he is unsure if he can win back the support of Browns fans. He noted that players often face a different response online and inside stadiums. He said players cannot answer fans directly during games. He also said social media gives fans a place to speak without facing a direct response from players. Watson said the situation has become a mental challenge for him. He also made a light remark about playing more road games if he gets the starting role. “I feel like I get more love in road games than I do home games,” Watson said. The quarterback now faces an important period as Cleveland prepares for the new season. His battle with Sanders could decide his role in the offense. The Browns also face a larger question about their long-term plans at quarterback. The team invested heavily in Watson, but his results have not matched the size of that investment. Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted last year that the decision to acquire Watson had been a “big swing and miss.” For now, Watson must focus on the quarterback battle and the regular season ahead. But the reaction from Browns fans shows that his relationship with Cleveland remains deeply strained.