Browns Insider Unsure Deshaun Watson 'Is Still Capable of Playing' QB amid Shedeur Sanders Battle

As the Cleveland Browns use training camp to evaluate their quarterback options going into the regular season, questions about Deshaun Watson's viability on the field are once again a hot topic.

The Athletic's Jason Lloyd stated he's "not sure Watson is still capable of playing quarterback in the NFL" based on his observations from the first two days of practice in camp:

"Through the first couple of days of training camp, I'm not sure Watson is still capable of playing quarterback in the NFL, but the Browns are going to give him every opportunity to win this job out of camp. If Watson manages to beat out Sanders, it will tell you without telling you what the Browns think of Sanders' NFL future."

Watson and Shedeur Sanders are competing in camp to be the starter, with each alternating first-team reps over the past two days.

Tracking from the first day of practice on Wednesday, in which Watson get all of the work with the first-team offense and Sanders worked with the second-team, Watson didn't perform well based purely on the stat line from ESPN Cleveland.

The two interceptions Watson threw occurred on back-to-back plays, though head coach Todd Monken credited cornerback Denzel Ward with making a great play on the first one.

"It was a great play more by (Ward) than to me a poor decision. I was standing right behind Deshaun, I would have made the throw … the second one was a dig where he was late," Monken told reporters.

Sanders got his run with the first-team offense on Thursday, with Watson working with the twos and his stat line looked much better.

Watson getting the first-team reps on the opening day of training camp could be an indication the coaching staff wants him to win the job, but it may not matter for his long-term future with the organization.

This is the final season of Watson's five-year, $230 million contract signed in March 2022. His Browns tenure has been a disaster so far with just 19 starts in four seasons, including missing all of 2025 after re-tearing his Achilles in January 2025.

Sanders finished last season as Cleveland's starting quarterback after Dillon Gabriel and Joe Flacco combined to go 2-8 in 10 starts. Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and completed 56.6 percent of his attempts.

The Browns had a respectable 3-4 record in Sanders' seven starts. Watson hasn't appeared in a game since Oct. 20, 2024.

There might be some indication of which way Monken is leaning in the quarterback race when the Browns play their first preseason game on Aug. 15 against the Chicago Bears.