Browns head coach Todd Monken is yet to announce the starting quarterback between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson ahead of the 2026 season. This has given NFL fans a quarterback battle to remember. With a second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders trying to make a name for himself against veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is trying to run back the clock, this has become one of the biggest storylines heading into the season.
Deshaun Watson was sidelined for the entire 2025 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, which he suffered on October 20, 2024 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders started the final seven games of the 2025 season after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion.
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The experience Shedeur Sanders gained from those seven starts was evident as he appeared to have an edge over Deshaun Watson in the early part of training camp, while the veteran struggled with turnovers. However, Watson turned it around after a turnover-free session on Day 7.
Then Todd Monken did something which sparked controversy. The Browns head coach decided to give Watson the first-team reps to Watson that had been scheduled for Shedeur on Saturday. Later, Monken clarified his decision, saying Shedeur worked with the first team during a walkthrough, which was the reason for the switch.
Despite the controversy, Shedeur Sanders' relationship with Deshaun Watson continues to be strong. Sanders said, "we like the hard coaching and we like all that stuff because we know it's coming from a place of wanting us to be great. Everybody's goal is aligned here. That's why we don't have the petty quarterback battles internally."
Todd Monken has reiterated that the quarterback battle is still wide open. Browns have two of their three preseason games coming up against Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills. Monken said that both Shedeur and Watson will start one of Browns' first two preseason games.
