With the preseason upon them, the Cleveland Browns appear no closer to settling their quarterback competition than they were at the start of training camp.
And they won’t be for at least another two weeks.
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The plan is for Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson to each start a preseason game before the Browns make the call. Head coach Todd Monken announced Monday that the two will split starts in Cleveland’s first two preseason games, but that the order has not yet been settled.
“They’re each gonna start a game,” Monken told reporters. ” … After those two games, then I think we’ll be closer to at least having a better idea. One’s gonna start one game and the other one’s gonna start the other.”
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Monken did not know yet which games which quarterback will play. The Browns open their preseason Saturday against the Chicago Bears, then play the following Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. Prior to the game against Buffalo, the Browns will conduct joint practices with the Bills.
Monken said that the plan during those joint practices is for Watson and Sanders to continue to split reps with the first team regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s game against Chicago.
It will be at least two more weeks before the Browns have a firm grasp on their quarterback competition.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
“We’re gonna have to decide when we practice against the Bills — because then, you’re not gonna just give one of the quarterbacks the ones,” Monken said. “You’re gonna have to rotate those guys a little bit.”
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This would continue Cleveland’s process of alternating each quarterback’s practice days working with starters in 11-on-11 drills. On days when they’re working with backups in full-team drills, they’re getting work with starters in 7-on-7s.
Watson is a veteran NFL starter who was a Pro Bowler before allegations of sexual misconduct, an NFL suspension, injuries and poor play derailed his career. He’s also playing the final season of a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
He would appear to have a leg up on the competition over Sanders, who started his career last season amid skepticism that he’s capable of being a viable NFL starter, then did little with his opportunity as a rookie to prove those skeptics wrong. In eight appearances in 2025, Sanders threw 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and posted a 68.1 quarterback rating for a 5-12 team.
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It’s not an enviable competition. But it’s the one the Browns have. And Monken, in his first season as an NFL head coach, is in no hurry to commit to either quarterback until he’s seen as much of each as possible.
