The Cleveland Browns entered the 2025 NFL season with serious quarterback questions to answer. While Deshaun Watson was ruled out for the entire 2025 campaign after re-rupturing his Achilles tendon, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders did not cement their place as the starting quarterback for the Browns. That meant it was an open competition entering 2026.
Sanders and Watson clearly emerged as the two favorites to win the job. It was Sanders who started strong during training camp but Watson slowly and steadily worked back into the competition. It started to appear that Watson has the slight edge over Sanders when Todd Monken named him the starting quarterback for the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, while Sanders was expected to play the second half.
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This was a big opportunity for both quarterbacks, and it seems like Watson won that battle. The veteran QB, who took the field after nearly two years of not playing in a game, led the offense on two early drives and helped put up 10 points. Watson recorded 11-of-15 passing for 126 yards, and also had a fumble.
Sanders was the quarterback for the Browns in the second half. While the former Colorado quarterback had some positive moments, his overthrown ball that was intercepted by Beanie Bishop completely overshadowed his day. Sanders eventually ended his day with 6-of-11 passing for 79 yards and one interception.
Todd Monken, addressing the quarterback play, after Shedeur's interception, said, "We want to see them compete as much as we can. And both of them had a turnover. One was a fumble, but I was really pleased with our quarterback play. It's not going to feel like that. Turn it over three times. That's never going to be ideal."
"But to me, it felt like we were we are going to be able to throw the football, be effective in that, certainly do a better job coaching in the run game and in protections and our play actions and everything that we do, we're going to get better at. But I was pleased with our quarterback play," he added.
The Cleveland Browns play their next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 22, and it seems like Shedeur has some ground to make in the QB1 battle.
