The decision is significant because Watson and Sanders have emerged as the two leading candidates in a quarterback room that also includes Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green. Watson getting the first preseason start could be viewed as an early indication that he has gained an edge over Sanders.

However, the Browns are making sure the competition remains alive. Sanders will get his own opportunity to start Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, giving the him a chance to respond immediately.

Does Deshaun Watson have the edge over Shedeur Sanders?

Watson being named the starter against Chicago is an important development, particularly after the veteran recently received all of the first-team reps on a training-camp day that was originally expected to belong to Sanders.

That does not mean Monken has already decided who will be Cleveland’s starting quarterback in Week 1. The Browns have deliberately structured the opening of the preseason to give both Watson and Sanders a chance to lead the offense.

Still, Watson now has the first opportunity to set the tone. A strong performance against Chicago could put additional pressure on Sanders before his turn against Buffalo.

When will the Browns decide their QB1?

The most important takeaway is that Watson’s start against Chicago should not be interpreted as the end of the competition. Monken has already made it clear through the preseason rotation that both quarterbacks will have meaningful opportunities.

At the same time, the sequence matters. Watson gets the first call, Sanders gets the second, and both performances will give Cleveland’s coaching staff more information before the regular season arrives.

The Browns appear determined to let the quarterbacks settle the competition on the field. For now, Watson has the early edge, but Sanders will have his chance to change the conversation against the Bills.

“One’s going to start this week, the other’s going to start next week,” Monken said during his press conference. “I would like to see the quarterback play a half and get a two-minute [drive]. We’re going to do everything we can to try to get a two-minute, simulate that before the half. And we’re going to try to do the exact same thing the next week.”

It is clear that the Browns’ QB competition comes down to these two names. It will be a matter of seeing what conclusions Monken ultimately draws after the three preseason games.

The first tests for Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns will tune up for the 2026 campaign with a three-game preseason slate, kicking off on the road against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Saturday, August 15. They will then return home to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland to host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 22.

Finally, the Browns will wrap up their exhibition schedule at home with a Thursday night clash against the New England Patriots on August 27. The official season opener will be against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road on September 13.

Can the Browns contend in the AFC North?

The Browns enter the 2026 season looking to re-establish themselves as genuine contenders in a brutal AFC North after a frustrating 2025 campaign where they finished last in the division with a 5–12 record. To climb back into contention, Cleveland must address offensive consistency, stabilize their quarterback situation, and maximize an elite defense. The Dawg Pound are aiming to break a two-year postseason drought, having last reached the playoffs in the 2023 season when they earned a Wild Card berth.

Cleveland’s QB room

While the discussion today is primarily focused on whether Watson or Sanders will be Cleveland’s starting quarterback, two other players could eventually get their opportunity. Sophomore Dillon Gabriel sits third on the depth chart, while Taylen Green is listed fourth.

The Browns entered camp with a crowded quarterback room that also includes Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green. Still, the battle has largely centered on Watson and Sanders, with both quarterbacks receiving opportunities to prove they deserve to lead the offense in 2026.

That balance appeared to shift on Day 10 of training camp. According to Mary Kay Cabot, Watson unexpectedly received every first-team rep on a day that was originally expected to belong to Sanders. The decision immediately raised questions about whether the Browns are quietly moving toward Watson as their QB1.

Who is Browns starting quarterback?

Deshaun Watson might be the starting quarterback of the Browns for the 2026 season. Mary Kay Cabot highlighted the unusual development and questioned whether it could represent the beginning of a larger change in the competition with Shedeur Sanders.

“Was this the soft launch of Deshaun Watson taking over QB1 in the two-way battle with Shedeur Sanders? On Day 10 of Browns training camp on Saturday, Watson surprisingly got all the first team reps on what was supposed to be Shedeur Sanders’ day.”

The development was enough to create immediate speculation, particularly because Sanders was expected to have the first-team opportunity that day. Giving Watson every rep instead represented a noticeable departure from the expected rotation. However, the Browns quickly offered an explanation for the decision.

Why did Deshaun Watson get all the first-team reps over Shedeur Sanders?

According to Mary Kay Cabot, a Browns spokesman clarified that the move was connected to specific personnel groupings Monken wanted to evaluate with Watson rather than an official announcement that the quarterback competition was over.

“Browns team spokesman said there were personnel groupings coach Monken wanted to see Deshaun Watson with today. He took all the first team reps on what was supposed to be Shedeur Sanders’ day.”

That explanation gives Cleveland some cover, but the controversy is unlikely to disappear. Multiple reports in recent days have suggested that Watson is gaining ground in the competition, making the timing of this decision particularly interesting.

Watson also brings considerably more NFL experience to the position, while Sanders is still trying to prove he’s ready to be a franchise quarterback. If Monken believes Deshaun gives the Browns the best chance to win immediately, this training camp decision could be explained.

Is the Browns QB competition coming to an end?

There is still no official decision, but the latest developments suggest the competition may be entering the final stage. With the regular season approaching, the Browns cannot afford to spend too much time rotating quarterbacks without establishing who will lead the offense.

Every first-team practice rep becomes more meaningful as Monken prepares the team for Week 1. Sanders still has an opportunity to change the narrative, but Watson appears to be gaining momentum. If that trend continues, the Browns could soon have a clear QB1, and what initially looked like a wide-open competition could become a decision that is difficult to reverse.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it “seems like Deshaun Watson has the leg up” after stringing a couple of days with first-team reps. Before that, Watson and Sanders were rotating days with the first-team offense.

As Rapoport states, Watson strung together a few great practices after getting off to a slow start and should be finally separating himself from Sanders in the eyes of Todd Monken’s coaching staff.

Deshaun Watson vs Shedeur Sanders

Watson is a veteran who got off to an electric start, but his career came crashing downs due to off-field issues and gruesome injuries. The last that we saw from Watson wasn’t as great. He is on a redemption tour.

Sanders is a sophomore who got a lot of hype during his College Football days and then slipped heavily in the NFL Draft. Some blamed this on his attitude and personality while others thought it was his weak strength of schedule when playing for Colorado.

Watson should look better with the new weapons at his disposal

If Deshaun Watson ends up as the QB1 as it’s been reported, he’ll have a plethora of ‘prove-it‘ weapons. Between veterans who need to show they still have gas in the tank and highly-touted rookies, these are the Browns’ best weapons:

Wide Receivers:

• KC Concepcion
• Jerry Jeudy
• Denzel Boston
• Cedric Tillman

Tight End:

• Harold Fannin Jr.

Browns RB coach Duce Staley stated that he thinks Quinshon Judkins “can play all three downs” this season. Judkins only played 35 third downs last season, which predominantly went to Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson.

Ford is now off the team and Judkins seems to have really separated himself from Sampson. Judkins was really coming into his own with a great rookie season until he suffered a season-ending leg injury. A few days ago, it was reported by Mary Kay Cabot that Judkins was a full go in the Browns training camp.

Judkins is a high-floor, high-ceiling RB

Before going down in Week 16, Judkins posted a 230-837-7 line in 14 games last season. He was the most dangerous player on the Browns offense that used too many quarterbacks, including Shedeur Sanders.

If Deshaun Watson earns QB1 status, the offense will still rely heavily on Quinshon Judkins. The running back is electric, versatile, and by all means, a playmaker. Hence, regardless of the quarterback, Judkins should be in for a massive sophomore season if health allows it.

The Browns offense should look very differently

The Browns scheme was designed by former head coach Kevin Stefanski. Now, it’s Todd Monken’s time to install a new offense and identity into the team. Monken does share the love for a good running game with Stefanski, but his schemes differ quite a bit.

Todd Monken’s offensive scheme is a spread-out, shotgun-heavy approach loosely inspired by the Air Raid and multiple personnel sets. In contrast, Kevin Stefanski runs a traditional West Coast, under-center, wide-zone run heavy system that relies heavily on play-action and multi-tight end alignments.

Clowney previously spent two seasons with the Browns (2021–2022) before departing after a tumultuous end to his second campaign. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Browns hosted Clowney for a visit on Wednesday as full training camp practices got under way.

While the meeting was reportedly positive, no contract has been finalized, and negotiations remain active between both parties. Schultz also unveiled that a team from the NFC West is also following Clowney closely.

Filling the void left by Garrett

The Browns sent shockwaves through the league when they traded Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, to the Rams in exchange for a haul that included young pass rusher Jared Verse. Losing a generational talent leaves Cleveland’s defensive line thin on proven experience.

While Clowney is no longer in his prime, he demonstrated that he can still produce at a high level. In 2025, playing on a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, the 33-year-old registered 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles, and 12 tackles for loss across 13 games, proving to be one of the few bright spots on the Dallas front seven.

Adding Clowney alongside Jared Verse, Alex Wright, and Isaiah McGuire would give Cleveland’s new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg a reliable rotation off the edge as the team adjusts to life after Garrett.

“I can’t be consistent on the field and not have consistency in my personal life,” Sanders said to ESPN’s Nadeska Alexis. “Whatever you do in your personal life is going to bleed into how you feel. If you’re disciplined, you’re going to make the right reads. If you have a lot of distractions, you’re gonna get distracted.

“You’re going to think the cornerback is backpedaling when he’s really sitting. It was just a tough year last year. My expectations, when I look back, dang, at least I made it through there. At least I made some crazy plays out there. I got it in me. All I gotta do now is just show everybody else.”

Todd Monken will lead the Dawg Pound this season, with both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson emerging as his top candidates for the starting quarterback job. Can No. 12 finally establish himself in the NFL after his rookie season?

How was Shedeur Sanders’ rookie year?

In his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders experienced a typical up-and-down transition to the NFL. Over eight games, he led the team to a 3–5 record, throwing for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While the turnover numbers reflect the classic growing pains of a first-year quarterback adjusting to pro defenses, his performances showed flashes of potential that give Cleveland something to build on moving forward.

Browns await training camp

Improving on last season’s performance and emerging as a contender in the AFC North starts long before Week 1. The Cleveland Browns are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2026 NFL training camp, where new head coach Todd Monken will begin working with his roster during the most demanding phase of the offseason.

The new group of players will report to the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio, on Thursday, July 23. Veterans, meanwhile, will be required to arrive on July 28.

The Browns’ first challenges

With the goal of getting off to a strong start in the 2026 NFL season, these will be the first challenges the Browns will face beginning in Week 1:

• Week 1, at Jacksonville Jaguars
• Week 2, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Week 3, vs Carolina Panthers
• Week 4, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
• Week 5, at New York Jets

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Sanders stated, “We’re both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be. So we’re not going to let anything get in between of that.” Sanders then added, “So it’s a level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other.”

Sanders also admitted neither him nor Watson are emotional over things they can control. Hence, it seems like a healthy competition is going on within the Browns confines. Early reports stated Watson was ahead of Sanders, but many things have happened and preseason could be key to decide who goes first in the pecking order.

Either Watson or Sanders must impress as they have massive help

While the Browns might not have the best roster by any means, they did reinforce their wide receiver room heavily. Names like Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, Cedric Tillman, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston will certainly help whoever gets the starting nod under center.

The wideouts and the quarterbacks have been working, polishing and establishing chemistry between them. That is key for the team to get to a good offensive place, something that is a must for Cleveland.

Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson’s comparisons

Watson is an NFL veteran while Sanders will only be a sophomore next season. Hence, take the following table comparing their numbers with a pinch of salt. Still, it provides a look on how they are as playmakers.

Verse arrived as part of a blockbuster trade the Rams did with the Browns to acquire Myles Garrett. He used to wear number eight on the Rams, and he decided to keep that number, despite it being already issued to QB Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel played six games in 2025 as a rookie. However, he lost his starting spot to Shedeur Sanders in the second half of the season. Now, he is behind Sanders and Deshaun Watson in the Browns’ QB battle.

Who is the Browns’ No. 8?

As of now, both Verse and Gabriel are wearing that jersey number. Teams have some freedom to double up on jersey numbers during the 90-man portion of the calendar. Once, the roster is cut to the final 53 men, only one can have it. Now, it remains to be seen if Gabriel will be on that final roster. If he doesn’t, No. 8 will be Verse’s number.

The ironic part in all of this, is that the Browns are the ones in charge of the numbers. They could just reclaim and reissue the number to Verse if they want. Still, at least for now, they’ll live with two No. 8’s on the team.

Is Myles Garrett using No. 95 on the Rams?

Yes, Myles Garrett will continue to use his mythical No. 95 jersey on the Rams. However, Garrett did buy his jersey number for an undisclosed fee from Poona Ford. Garrett took a much more traditional approach.

Also, that might have been because Ford is really likely to stay on the 53-man roster. When speaking on the matter, Garrett said it took “more than a couple” of bucks for Ford to give him the No. 95.

“Good for us,” Flacco said via the Bengals official website. Not having to face one of the league’s best defensive ends twice during the season could be beneficial for Cincinnati, but there are those who believe the team cannot afford to relax because of this situation.

“It doesn’t matter. You still have to go win on Sundays. Congrats to Myles. That’s how I feel. We still have to go win,” Orland Brown Jr. said. “(Verse) is a young player who is also a great player. Very talented. I have a lot of respect for his game.”

Amarius Mims will also be tasked with protecting his quarterback, whether that ends up being Joe Flacco or Joe Burrow. The addition of Jared Verse to the Browns as part of that trade does not necessarily weaken the Rams’ roster, as Los Angeles still boasts plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. “It’s the hardest division anywhere, whether it’s Myles Garrett or Jared Verse,“ he said.

Garrett takes his talents to the NFC West

The Los Angeles Rams have completely shaken up the NFL with a true blockbuster trade. Myles Garrett’s arrival to Rams instantly makes their defense terrifying, especially considering he is coming off a legendary 2025 campaign.

Garrett was named the Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring the league with a historic NFL record of 23 sacks, while also racking up 17 tackles for loss, 31 quarterback hits, and 4 forced fumbles.

When do the Bengals and Browns face off?

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns are scheduled to face each other twice during the 2026 NFL regular season. Their first division rivalry matchup will take place in Week 13 on Sunday, December 6, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.

They will wrap up their season series in Week 18 on Sunday, January 10, 2027 (or Saturday, January 9, depending on NFL flexing), when the Bengals host the Browns at Paycor Stadium.

The detailed production report was shared on X by Daniel Oyefusi. “Expected new Browns DE Jared Verse, who was the 2024 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, has 99 pressures since entering the league in 2024,” the reporter shared. This elite level of consistent performance could the franchise in the upcoming 2026 NFL season.

Oyefusi further emphasized his elite historical standing by comparing his data to Garrett and Micah Parsons. “Only Micah Parsons (119) and Myles Garrett (109) have more over that span, per ESPN Research,” the report detailed, adding that Verse turns 26 in November and is eligible for a contract extension after the 2026 season.

Verse can change things for the Cleveland defense

An examination of his early NFL stats demonstrates exactly why he is viewed as a game-changing asset for his new squad. During his magnificent 2024 debut season, the star edge rusher racked up 66 total tackles and 4.5 sacks on his way to earning Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Last year with the Los Angeles Rams, the dynamic defender took another massive leap forward by recording a career-high 7.5 sacks, 58 tackles, and forcing three fumbles. These stellar campaigns allowed him to be named a Pro Bowler two years in a row, representing his first two and only years in the NFL so far.

The young star could drastically help the Browns build a status of an stronger defensive unit. His high-energy playing style and elite ability to generate quick pressures ensure that the defensive line will continue to dictate the pace of games.