CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns took the field at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday for the first time during the 2022 preseason, for a game versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite Cleveland losing to the Eagles, 21-20, some fans were focused on the Browns taking the field for the first time since quarterback Deshaun Watson received a longer suspension as the result of an agreement with the NFL.
Despite his suspension starting Aug. 30, Watson remained on the bench for the preseason game.
Though fans said they’re hopeful for a decent season, many at Sunday’s game also expressed mixed feelings about Watson as the team’s new quarterback.
“I rep the Baker Mayfield jersey. I think we should have kept him up until Watson could have actually played,” said Mitchell Elliott, who drove more than three hours from Rochester, NY with his mom to see the Browns take on the Eagles.
But when fans, like Elliott, will actually get to Watson play in the regular season is now even longer of a wait.
In an announcement by the NFL last Thursday, as part of a settlement with the league and NFL Players Association, Watson’s suspension was increased to 11 games.
Watson also will pay a $5 million fine.
The punishment comes after Watson was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions.
If re-inducted on time for completing treatment and an evaluation by the league, Watson will make his regular-season debut in week 13 against his former team, the Houston Texans.
Still, despite the quarterback controversy, many fans said they’re keeping the faith.
When asked how the team would do this season, Ethan Corfman and his brother, Brody, said, “better than last year.”
Others, like Elliott, are putting their trust in the hands of other players.
“I believe we have a chance as long as [Nick] Chubb runs the best that he can,” said Elliott.
Despite Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, not many of the team’s starters saw game time.
Fans are waiting for the real test in three weeks when the Browns take on the Carolina Panthers in their regular-season opener, facing off against former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.
