The Cleveland Browns plan to rotate their starting quarterbacks for their first two preseason games – but are giving the edge to the more veteran of the pair.
On Wednesday, Browns head coach Todd Monken revealed that Deshaun Watson will be starting the team’s first preseason game on Saturday against the Chicago Bears.
He also confirmed that second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders will start the game the following week at home against the Buffalo Bills.
Monken made it clear that the battle between the two quarterbacks for the starting gig is not yet decided, adding that his initial plan was to start both signal callers in separate preseason games, per The Athletic.
The two quarterbacks have taken first-team reps in alternating quantities throughout the preseason – barring last Saturday, when Watson took all the No. 1 opportunities.
Despite naming Watson the starter, Monken says he expects all healthy Browns players to play some on Saturday, per the outlet.
The Browns will start Deshaun Watson in their first preseason game over Shedeur Sanders
Both Watson (4) and Sanders (2) will get playing time in the game against the Bears, with Sanders set to play in the second half. He will also start the team’s second preseason game.
Browns head coach Todd Monken has not made a decision on who will be the Week 1 starter
Monken’s plan is to play Watson for the first half before handing the reins to Sanders in the third quarter, the outlet reports. A similar split is expected for the second preseason game.
A choice about the Week 1 starter has not yet been made as the Browns are set to make the final starting quarterback choice of any team in the league.
Watson has not taken a snap in a game since tearing his right Achilles in October of 2024. His subsequent surgery and recovery left him out for the entirety of the 2025 season as well.
‘My job is to just keep trying to win the day, get better a little bit each time,’ Watson said, via The Athletic. ‘Can’t rush anything. Just get out there and let the football things I’ve been doing my whole life take care of themselves.’
Sanders, who dropped to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft despite a first-round projection, earned the starting job midway through the season after starting third on the depth chart.
He eventually got the start over Dillon Gabriel and finished with a record of 3-5 across eight appearances – throwing for 1,400 yards along with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions.
