Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson had an offseason full of ups and downs as Todd Monken looked to find a quarterback who could help the Cleveland Browns bounce back after a disappointing 2025 NFL season. The franchise ended the season with a 5-12 record, with three quarterbacks playing throughout the course of the season: Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Sanders.
Flacco started the 2025 season for the Browns before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals. However, Gabriel had already taken over as the starter before the trade, giving the rookie an opportunity to show his talent during his first NFL season. An unfortunate concussion injury against the Baltimore Ravens meant that Sanders took over at quarterback and started seven of the Browns’ final eight games.
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Sanders threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. However, his turnover issues became one of the primary reasons behind him not being the starter and paved the way for an intriguing quarterback battle with Watson during the offseason, a battle which ended with Monken naming Watson the starter for the 2026 season.
With Watson named the starter and Sanders the backup, it was time for Monken to decide the fate of both Taylen Green and Gabriel before the initial 53-man roster was finalized. Both the quarterbacks impressed during the Browns’ final preseason game against the New England Patriots.
Gabriel threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns, while Green impressed with his dual-threat ability by throwing for 27 yards and rushing for 66 yards. An unfortunate back injury to Gabriel led to Green making the active roster and Gabriel being placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. However, there is another twist to this story, which is a bad update for Sanders.
Monken, when asked whether Green could be the No. 2 quarterback ahead of Sanders for the Jacksonville Jaguars game, said, “Could be. There could be a package where we have him.”
“I know that’s the word — possibly. It’s possible that we could use him in that,” Monken further added when discussing the possibility of using all three quarterbacks.
The Browns went 1-2 in their preseason games as they head into their first regular-season game against the Jaguars on September 13.
