Browns QB Shedeur Sanders will start this weekend’s game vs. the Saints, HC Todd Monken announced on Friday. QB Deshaun Watson (concussion) is listed as questionable after returning to practice on Friday, so he might be available for backup duties. Sanders completed just 57% of his passes at 6.6 yards per attempt as a rookie last year. We’re projecting him as a slight downgrade from Watson for Cleveland’s passing game.
The Browns announced Wednesday morning that QB Deshaun Watson is in the concussion protocol. The timing of his start there makes it look unlikely that Watson will be ready to play this Sunday at New Orleans.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 30 passes (80%) for 238 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs in Sunday's surprising 23-19 victory over the Buccaneers. His 121.9 passer rating tied for 14th-highest among 74 career regular-season appearances and ranked third among his Browns outings.
Browns HC Todd Monken has named QB Deshaun Watson his Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders comfortably out-played QB Deshaun Watson in Saturday's preseason game vs. the Bills. Sanders got the start and went 9-of-11 for 74 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT across four possessions. He also took 1 sack on his 13 dropbacks. It was far from a flawless performance, but it was a lot better than QB Deshaun Watson's showing. He mustered just 36 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT on 5-of-12 passing. The INT came on a bad throw and bad decision into traffic.
After an offseason that didn’t see any newcomers to challenge for the top quarterback spot, we’re nine days into Browns training camp and there isn’t a clear lead for it. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that there is “Zero apparent separation in the ongoing quarterback battle” between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
Cleveland's QB competition has been viewed as Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders throughout the offseason, which makes obvious sense. Sanders finished last year as the team's starter, and Watson's still making way too much money to not at least get consideration. But Dillon Gabriel has gained recent praise from HC Todd Monken and should see expanded practice reps.
The Athletic’s Zac Jackson believes Browns QB Shedeur Sanders “might be taking the lead” over Deshaun Watson in the competition for the starting job. Sanders and Deshaun Watson have taken turns running the first-team offense, but Jackson suggested that the second-year QB has outplayed Watson so far.
Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reports that QB Deshaun Watson appears to be moving toward being named the Browns' starter for the coming season.
The Cleveland Browns selected Arkansas QB Taylen Green in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Green started for two years at Boise State before transferring to Arkansas for his final two seasons. He combined for 5,868 passing yards with 34 passing TDs and 20 INTs over those two years. Green also added 1,379 rushing yards and 16 rushing TDs. Green’s game was bult on his elite athleticism. He ran a 4.36 40 with a 43.50” Vertical and 11’02” Broad Jump at 6’5 3/4 and 227 pounds. Among the 15 QBs invited to the NFL Combine, Green ranked 15th in 2025 adjusted completion percentage (71.3%), and sixth in aDOT (9.5). He ranked 12th in 2025 Big Time Throw rate (3.2%) and second in rushing yards per game when removing sacks (82.8). He is currently 23 years old.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said QB Deshaun Watson is in “great shape” and will get a clean slate to compete for the starting job. Watson missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles in October 2024 and undergoing a second surgery in January 2025. Still, Haslam noted that Watson "threw the ball well” late last season despite remaining on the PUP list.
The Browns haven't signed or traded for a QB this offseason. As a result, Zac Jackson of The Athletic belives "it's fair to assume that [Shedeur] Sanders will get at least some runway" to be QB1.
New Browns HC Todd Monken says he's "intrigued" by a QB already on the Cleveland roster ... and it's not a guy who played for the team in 2025. The coach used that description for Deshaun Watson at his opening news conference. And Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reports that Monken and Watson are "eager" to work together. The QB last played in Week 7 of 2024, when a torn Achilles' tendon ended his season. Watson spent most of this past season still working back from the injury, gaining clearance for football activity in November.
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