Resurgent Deshaun Watson leads Browns to dramatic win as controversial QB’s redemption arc continues… but backup Shedeur Sanders is caught looking dejected

Shedeur Sanders could only stand by and watch on as Deshaun Watson emphatically cemented his place as the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback. 

The pair had battled for the starter spot throughout training camp with Watson ultimately winning out for the start of the regular season. 

Despite a rocky opening game, head coach Todd Monken stuck with the controversial signal caller under center – a decision that was rewarded on Thursday night. 

Watson led the Browns to a dramatic 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with Cleveland improving to 3-1.

And while Watson was driving the Browns down the field, Sanders was caught looking on dejected. 

With the score 21-10 in favor of the Browns with 12:45 remaining in the third quarter, the Amazon Prime broadcast panned to the backup on the sidelines. 

The second-year signal caller was seen biting his nails and chewing on his mouth guard with a seemingly concerned expression on his face. 

The moment quickly went viral among NFL fans on social media with some claiming that he looked ‘miserable.’   

‘SHEDEUR SANDERS DOES NOT LOOK HAPPY,’ one fan account posted. ‘That man is absolutely MISERABLE on the sideline right now.’

‘He knows he is not seeing the field now barring an injury,’ another claimed.

‘Shedeur Sanders knows it’s over for him in Cleveland,’ a third added. 

Watson passed for 268 yards and moved the Browns into position for Andre Szmyt’s career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining that gave Cleveland the win. 

Watson, who completed 24 of 33 passes with a touchdown and interception, was 4 of 5 for 46 yards as he led a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter for the third straight week.

The Browns – who are 3-1 for the first time since 2021 – had a 21-7 lead late in the first half before the Steelers rallied to tie it at 24-all. Aaron Rodgers threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth with 1:44 remaining and Rodgers sneaked it in for the 2-point conversion.

Rodgers, who was 22 of 40 for 299 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, had one final chance to get the Steelers in field goal range, but was picked off by Grant Delpit at the Browns 18 with one second left.

Many had predicted that Watson’s time as QB1 in Cleveland was coming to an end after he was ruthlessly booed off in preseason, leading to him calling them out for the ‘disrespectful’ reaction.

Watson has a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans because of a multitude of injuries, off-field issues – including an NFL suspension in 2022 – and a massive, $230 million contract.

Prior to the start of the 2026 regular season, Watson had started just 19 games since the Browns acquired him in a blockbuster trade from Houston four years ago and signed him to a fully guaranteed contract. They traded three first-round draft picks for the three-time Pro Bowl pick, who came to Cleveland embroiled in controversy.

He served an 11-game league suspension in his first season after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions. He also paid a $5 million fine and completed a treatment program.

Watson struggled with rustiness upon his return and was just beginning to play like a Pro Bowl QB again when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 and had surgery. This season, he’s coming back from twice rupturing his Achilles tendon.

However, in an unfortunate twist for Sanders, Watson now appears to have won the Cleveland fans over again.