Cleveland - 27, Houston - 14
Q. Deshaun, talk about what it was like out there. Obviously probably you might have felt a little bit rusty, you didn't play exactly the way you wanted your own performance to go. How do you think you did today?
DESHAUN WATSON: Overall, the biggest thing is getting in and out of the huddles, calling plays. Didn't have too many miscommunications with Kevin.
I heard something walking off the field, I guess it's 700-plus days since I played. Yeah, it's not going to be perfect, especially playing in December football where guys are week 14, week 13, and this is week 1 for me.
It was fun, though. It was awesome to be able to get out there with my teammates. The defense played a heck of a game, got some touchdowns for us. Special teams, DPJ, the big punt return was big for us to kind of shift the momentum, and that's what we needed at the time. That's why it's a team sport. We just got to keep pushing forward.
Q. What did you make of the constant booing before every snap?
DESHAUN WATSON: They're supposed to boo. I'm a Cleveland Brown now, and we're on the road. So they're supposed to do that.
Q. What was just the overall emotion, especially pregame, a lot of fans booing? It seems like the emotion of everything was a buildup just for your return. I know you mentioned you were just excited to get back out there.
DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, it's been a long road. Like I say, just kind of from being traded, like I mentioned before, Houston is still part of me. It's part of my legacy. I've got drafted here. We went through a lot of ups and downs with this organization.
Being traded was tough, but it's a business decision, and it had to happen. Being into that and my first game back here in Houston was tough. Walking into the stadium on the opposite side of the stadium and locker room, it was different because I know exactly how those guys get ready for games and how they do the pregame and talk and everything.
So there was a lot of emotion, a lot of just kind of -- just trying to keep everything in, knowing a lot of guys that's on that defense and on that offense. So it was tough, but at the same time, it was very exciting to be able to just get my feet wet and be able to run around and take some hits and see everything kind of happen full speed.
Q. Did you ever feel in rhythm, like when you're at your best --
DESHAUN WATSON: For today?
Q. Yeah, in this game.
DESHAUN WATSON: They did a good job of trying to keep me off rhythm, keep me in the pocket. A lot of gains up front, a lot of switching up different coverages. It's a little bit different than what they showed on film as a consistent basis.
So Lovie did a good job. Talking with some players after the game, that's what they wanted to do is try to mix it up a little bit and see what I can handle and see what they can do.
That's what I wanted to do is try to figure out what they're doing each and every snap.
Q. Deshaun, people in the stands team wearing your No. 4 jersey for the Texans and No. 4 jersey for the Browns, and you're also getting booed every time you touch the ball. Do you think this is how it's going to be moving forward as you come back? How do you perceive this will be with the reaction and reception you continue to get?
DESHAUN WATSON: I'm not sure what it's going to be, and that's not even my main focus. My main focus is doing my job, executing, and trying to play each and every step.
Like I said, there's a lot of people showing support, but I didn't really focus on the negative things. I was focusing on trying to execute as much as I can.
Q. You mentioned they're supposed to boo their opponent, but I can't imagine you've ever been booed every time you've taken a snap for an entire half of football, so what did that feel like?
DESHAUN WATSON: I definitely have, South Carolina in college. A couple games we went on the road to Tennessee. Yeah, like I said, it is what it is. I can't control the fans, how they approach whenever I step on the field. My job is to go out there and execute and do my best on behalf of the team.
Q. You've got to think it's not about rivalry this time.
DESHAUN WATSON: Like I said, I can't control that.
Q. How do you remain even or guard against frustration when maybe your balls are hitting in the ground or you're not hitting your targets and finding that rhythm that you want to?
DESHAUN WATSON: That's why I have teammates. The offensive line was picking me up, running backs, receivers. Jacoby was a big help on the sideline talking to me. He said that's part of the game. It's knocking the rust off.
He said he felt the same way week 1, trying to get into rhythm, new offense, new system, new guys. Like I said before, just trying to continue to improve each and every day, that's my goal. Just try to get in that rhythm as much as possible. We've got a big one next week, and I'm just happy to be 1-0.
Q. You said this week that you would only answer football questions, but today's game was significant because you are returning from suspension. Are you able to say today that you are remorseful for the conduct that got you suspended?
DESHAUN WATSON: Like I said before, that's something that legal and clinical have answered before and they don't want me to address anything like that. Of course it's a tough situation. The suspension was tough.
But at the same time, my main focus was just trying to be 1-0 as a football player today.
Q. The answer legal and clinical, that's not necessarily tied to anything legal or clinical. So as you returned today, did you feel remorse for the actions that got you suspended?
DESHAUN WATSON: Like I said, I was just excited to be back on the field today. I did everything that I was asked and was required to do. I did all that, and I was able to be able to play and be on the field today.
Q. Because of the buildup of this game and possibly the stress coming back and being here with accusers and all those kinds of things happening today, do you feel that having gotten this one out of the way, did you knock off enough rust that you feel next week against the Bengals should be significantly better than what people saw out there today?
DESHAUN WATSON: Of course. That's the rule of the game, just try and improve each and every week. Next week I definitely need to be better. I will be better. The team will be betterment the goal is to be 1-0.
I'm not sure how the outcome of the game is going to be or what is going to take place or what the defense is going to do or the situations of the game. I can't really control that until that play happens. But that's ultimately the goal.
We celebrate, get on the plane, get back to Cleveland. Once we get back, we have to turn the page, watch the film, fix the mistakes, and get ready for Cincinnati.
Q. You said you didn't know how rusty you'd be until you got in this game. Now that it's over, were you surprised you were that rusty, or did you really deep down expect that?
DESHAUN WATSON: I would just say I felt every single one of those 700 days honestly. However long I've been out, I felt every single one of those days. Getting back in shape and everything is definitely what I needed today.
Q. Coach said that you felt jittery. Were you jittery? If so, what were you jittery about?
DESHAUN WATSON: I wouldn't say I was jittery. It was just more so of getting out there and being able to play. ^ to come at you. For the past however long, since I've been back on the practice field, guys are coming towards me, but they're not allowed to hit me. This is the first time I've had action other than the preseason game, which was eight plays, I think, where guys was coming at me full speed and trying to get the ball from me.
Like I said, it's just knocking off the rust and getting the timing down with the receivers and the offense and knowing who is blocking for me up front and how they block and where they're going to sit in a situation.
So it was the first time for live action, but it was good to feel it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports