Why did Mina Kimes rip the Browns over Deshaun Watson? Here’s what sparked her strong reaction(Getty)The Cleveland Browns made their quarterback decision on August 24, 2026, and Mina Kimes had plenty to say about it. Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders after a close competition. The choice came just two days after Watson was booed during Cleveland’s 31-7 preseason loss to Buffalo. Kimes argued that the reaction was not simply about Watson’s past. She believes his uneven play has also given Browns fans reason to turn on him.Watson’s return already carries plenty of pressure. He missed the entire 2025 season after an Achilles injury and has struggled to stay healthy since joining Cleveland. Now, he will open the 2026 regular season as QB1. Kimes believes the Browns have once again chosen to stand firmly behind him, even as their relationship with the fanbase continues to get more complicated. Mina Kimes questions Browns’ decision after Deshaun Watson’s latest setbackRecently, Mina Kimes shared her reaction in a video posted to Bluesky . She pointed to Watson’s preseason performances and his recent comments about Cleveland fans. Her main argument was simple: Watson cannot dismiss the boos as purely personal when his play has also failed to win supporters back.“I think Watson is wrong,” Kimes said. “I don’t think he’s being booed for personal reasons. Maybe by some! There’s definitely fans who never got over it. But I think he’s being booed because he’s been bad at football.”The frustration became especially clear during the Bills game on August 22. Watson completed just 5 of 12 passes for 67 yards and threw an interception. Cleveland lost 31-7, and the home crowd booed Watson during his appearance.That came after Watson addressed the possibility of being booed before the game. Recently, he said, “I don’t care.” After the loss, however, his tone changed. He described the boos as “disrespectful” and said the reaction felt personal.Watson later tried to clear up those comments on August 24. Speaking after Monken named him the starter, he admitted that “emotions got the best of me” and said he understood why some fans were frustrated. He also stressed that he remains committed to Cleveland.That change in tone did little to soften Kimes’ criticism. She also revisited the serious sexual misconduct allegations made against Watson by 27 women. Watson has denied wrongdoing. The NFL suspended him for 11 games in 2022 for violating its personal conduct policy. Kimes argued that Cleveland has not demanded enough accountability from its quarterback. Todd Monken gives Watson another chance to change the storyThe Browns, however, say the decision was about football. Monken evaluated Watson and Sanders throughout training camp, preseason games and joint practices before making his call. He said Watson gives Cleveland its “best chance” to win and move the offense.The numbers show why the decision remains debatable. Through two preseason appearances, Watson completed 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards with one interception. Sanders completed 15 of 22 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.Still, Monken made his choice. Watson will start the September 13 opener against Jacksonville, followed by a road game against Tampa Bay. Cleveland will not play its first regular-season home game until Week 3 against Carolina.In Watson’s case, that gives him a clean opportunity to change the conversation. And for Kimes and plenty of Browns fans, though, the questions surrounding this decision are not going away. The quarterback now has to answer them with his play.