Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson Preseason Plan Revealed in Latest NFL Rumors on Browns QB Battle

The quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson gives Cleveland Browns fans something to watch during the preseason, and head coach Todd Monken has already laid out a plan for how he'll go about the competition.

"He's gonna start one quarterback in the first preseason game, the other will start the second one," NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported (1:44 in video). "And most likely, the leader of the competition's gonna start the third. He said this week the next week is gonna decide who gets each of those games."

Wolfe also noted that the quarterback's chemistry with the receivers will be a factor.

Monken said at the start of training camp last week that Sanders and Watson will split first-team reps and that both would play in preseason, but he didn't give a timeline for when he'll make a decision.

It's hard to say whether one quarterback came into the offseason with a leg up, considering they're at vastly different stages of their careers.

Watson has played at a high level before and is a former Pro Bowler, but he's played just 19 games since arriving in Cleveland ahead of the 2022 campaign. He hasn't played since October of 2024.

Sanders is coming off a rookie season that saw him complete 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His 68.1 quarterback rating and 18.9 QBR both ranked last in the NFL among all quarterbacks who started at least seven games, per Pro Football Reference.

Sanders had his moments, like a 364-yard, four-touchdown game against the Tennessee Titans in December, but it was mostly rough for the former fifth-round pick.

Of course, Sanders has had a full offseason to get better, so Monken and the Browns' staff likely aren't judging him based on how he played as a rookie.

Regardless of what happens in the quarterback battle, Sanders said everyone has the same goal.

"Everybody's goal is aligned here," Sanders told reporters this week. "That's why we don't have the petty quarterback battles internally. That's not up to us. It's up to whoever the coaches think put their best foot forward."

The Browns play their first preseason game on Aug. 15 against the Chicago Bears before facing the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Who will get the first start remains to be seen.