Myles Garrett and Jameis Winston defended quarterback Deshaun Watson hard, but before being cheered by Browns fans during the intro, he was carted off the field with a likely season-ending Achilles injury. was booed by Browns fans.
Both players criticized fans Sunday who appeared to be rooting for Watson's exit, with Garrett going so far as to say Watson was a “model citizen” throughout his college and pro football career.
“If you look at the reaction of the fans, whether it’s the opponent going down or our team, they don’t boo.” Garrett said. “We don't boo an injured player on the field, especially when Kurt comes out. We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans for booing someone or their downfall.” It could be a career-altering injury. People aren't perfect. He doesn't have to be. We don't expect anyone to be.
“You can't throw a stone out of a glass house, so you can't judge him by what he does off the field and on the field. We need to get better. We need to do more on the football field. We need to do better, and even as fans who have a certain amount of empathy for a guy who has done everything he can, we need to do better. No.”
Watson went down with a non-contact injury late in the second quarter of the Browns' loss to the Bengals.
The QB was running with the ball when he stepped on his left foot, potentially tearing his Achilles tendon, and immediately fell to the ground in pain.
He was eventually dragged off the field, where fans appeared to boo Watson.
“Humans do almost everything right.” Garrett added. “He was a model citizen and professional through college. He plays the game harder than anyone I've ever seen. He's willing to risk it all and put his body on the line. He can go 160 mph. He was playing a game and there was a risk of injury, and he took that risk.
“We have to be there for him as a team, as an organization. We can't look down on a player for mistakes on the field or mistakes off the field. We have this guy. There is no moral high ground to look down on.”
Cornerback Greg Newsome didn't shy away from Cleveland fans.
“It was a bull. I noticed it right away.” Newsom told reporters.. “No matter what you think about a player's performance, you don't boo a player who's so down that he can't pick himself up. That was bullshit. If a fan says something, it's the Bulls. It's that simple. No matter if the player is playing well or if you are a fan favorite or not booing the player who is sitting. Yes, that's bullshit. .”
Watson has had a checkered history off the field with the Browns since arriving in Cleveland in 2022.
The quarterback faces more than 20 lawsuits alleging sexual assault or harassment stemming from alleged inappropriate interactions with massage therapists.
Watson just recently settled a new sexual assault lawsuit filed in September related to a date Watson went on in 2020, in which the woman claimed, among other charges, that she had been “for a few minutes… ” alleges that he “roughly sexually assaulted” her.
On the field, Watson was nowhere near what the Browns hoped for when they opted to trade for the controversial quarterback.
Watson has never recorded at least 200 passing yards this season, and his time on the field in Cleveland will be limited.
Still, backup quarterback Jameis Winston impassioned fans not to treat players the way they treated Watson on Sunday.
“I'm so angry at the reaction of a man who has put his body and life on the line for this city every day for the past four years, against the world.” Winston said. “Regardless of your perception, no matter what you thought should happen to him, he promised me every day that I would be here to do what's best for this team.”
He further added: “I know you love this game since I got here. I knew they were great fans. But now it's different because Deshaun was treated so badly. obstacles must be overcome.”
