The Browns quarterback has Cleveland sitting at 3-1 after three straight comeback victories, and his latest performance has people wondering whether his old form is finally returning.
Deshaun Watson’s comeback story in Cleveland has taken another unexpected turn.
After years of injuries, inconsistent play and an increasingly complicated relationship with Browns fans, Watson has suddenly become the quarterback at the center of one of the NFL’s biggest early-season surprises. Cleveland improved to 3-1 Thursday night with a dramatic 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the performance was enough to catch the attention of an unlikely observer: Bruce Springsteen guitarist Steven Van Zandt, better known as Little Steven.
During the game, Van Zandt took to X to question what had sparked Watson’s turnaround, writing that the quarterback was looking remarkably close to his previous form after seemingly being counted out.
The observation came as Watson helped Cleveland overcome Pittsburgh in another one-score game. With the Steelers tying the contest late in the fourth quarter, Watson responded by moving the Browns into field-goal range. Andre Szmyt then connected on a career-long 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining, giving Cleveland its third consecutive victory. Grant Delpit intercepted Aaron Rodgers on Pittsburgh’s final possession to officially close the door.
Watson finished the night 24-of-33 for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown came on a two-yard connection with tight end Harold Fannin Jr., while his most important work came on Cleveland’s final possession. Watson completed passes to KC Concepcion Jr., Jerry Jeudy and Fannin to move the Browns 36 net yards and put Szmyt in position for the winner. (Cleveland Browns)
The performance was not flawless. Watson was intercepted once and lost a fumble during the game, and Cleveland’s offense struggled to maintain its early momentum after building a 21-10 halftime advantage. But when the Browns needed their quarterback late, Watson delivered another decisive drive.
That has become a pattern.
Cleveland opened the season with a 34-10 loss to Jacksonville, a result that appeared to reinforce the skepticism surrounding Watson. Since then, however, the Browns have beaten Tampa Bay 23-19, Carolina 21-18 and Pittsburgh 27-24. Each of those victories has been decided by one score. (NFL)
Through four games, Watson has completed 80 of 115 passes for 855 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He is completing 69.6% of his attempts and has added 127 rushing yards. His 101.18 passer rating currently represents a significant departure from the struggles that characterized his previous seasons in Cleveland. (Cleveland Browns)
More importantly for Cleveland, Watson has repeatedly made plays late in games.
The Browns have now started 3-1 for the first time since 2021, putting them atop the AFC North after Thursday night’s win. Baltimore and Cincinnati entered the weekend at 2-1, meaning the division race remains unsettled, but Cleveland has nevertheless put itself in an unexpected position this early in the season. (Cleveland Browns)
For Watson, the turnaround is particularly notable because of how far his Cleveland tenure had fallen.
The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in 2022 after giving up a massive package of draft compensation and signing him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Expectations were built around the quarterback who had established himself as one of the NFL’s most productive young passers in Houston.
Instead, his Cleveland career was repeatedly interrupted.
Watson missed the entire 2021 season amid the legal and NFL disciplinary process surrounding numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. He was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million by the NFL for violating its personal-conduct policy. (NFL)
The legal allegations involved more than two dozen women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct during massage appointments. Watson has denied wrongdoing, and two Texas grand juries declined to indict him in 2022. Civil litigation continued for years, with most cases ultimately resolved through settlements or dismissals. By February 2026, the Associated Press reported that the final two of the nearly 30 civil lawsuits had been dismissed. (AP News)
On the field, Watson never consistently reproduced the level of football he displayed with Houston. Injuries further complicated his Cleveland tenure. He played only 19 games for the Browns through his first several seasons with the organization, including season-ending injuries in consecutive years before missing the 2025 season. (ESPN)
That history makes the first four games of 2026 particularly striking.
Before the season, Watson was not even guaranteed the starting job. Cleveland ultimately named him the starter ahead of rookie Shedeur Sanders after evaluating the quarterbacks throughout the offseason and preseason. (NFL)
The decision initially looked vulnerable.
Watson was booed by sections of the Cleveland crowd during the preseason, and the Browns’ Week 1 loss to Jacksonville did little to quiet the criticism. Yet the quarterback has responded with three consecutive victories and has shown the ability to manufacture late-game drives when Cleveland has needed them most.
NFL.com noted after Thursday’s win that Watson looked like the best version of himself since his Houston days during portions of the game, while also acknowledging that his performance included significant struggles. (NFL)
That distinction is important.
Four games do not erase the previous four seasons, and Watson’s current production does not establish that he has permanently returned to his Houston level. What it does show is a quarterback who is currently playing efficiently enough to give Cleveland opportunities to win, while making critical plays in high-pressure moments.
And that is exactly why Van Zandt’s observation resonated.
The Browns entered the season surrounded by questions at quarterback and uncertainty about what Watson could still offer. Four weeks later, Cleveland is 3-1, Watson is producing at a 101.2 passer-rating pace, and the Browns have won three straight games.
The next step will be sustaining it.
For now, though, Watson has turned what looked like another Cleveland quarterback controversy into one of the NFL’s most intriguing early-season developments. Even a legendary rock guitarist who happened to be watching from afar noticed the difference.
Little Steven’s question — what exactly happened to Deshaun Watson? — may be one of the most interesting questions in Cleveland right now.
