The Cleveland Browns have finally ended one of the biggest quarterback battles of the NFL preseason — and they went with the veteran.
Deshaun Watson will be the Browns’ starting quarterback when they open the 2026 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13. Shedeur Sanders, who competed with Watson throughout training camp and the preseason, will begin the season as the backup.
And honestly, this decision is already getting people talking.
Watson Gets Another Chance
Watson hasn’t played in a regular-season game since October 2024 after suffering an Achilles injury. He then suffered another Achilles injury during his recovery, forcing him to miss the entire 2025 season.
Now, at 31 years old, he’s getting another opportunity to prove that he can still be the quarterback Cleveland believed it was getting when the team acquired him in 2022.
The problem?
His preseason hasn’t exactly screamed “QB1.”
Through two preseason appearances, Watson completed 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Sanders completed 15 of 22 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
So while neither quarterback completely dominated the competition, Cleveland ultimately decided Watson gave the team the better chance to win right now.
Shedeur Sanders Has to Wait
For Sanders, this is obviously a disappointing result.
The former Colorado star was drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and started the final seven games of last season. He showed enough flashes to make this quarterback competition genuinely interesting.
But the Browns weren’t ready to hand him the keys just yet.
Instead, Sanders will have to wait for his opportunity — and considering Watson’s injury history and recent struggles, that opportunity could come sooner than expected if things go badly.
Browns Fans Aren’t Exactly Happy
Here’s where things get really interesting.
Watson was booed by Browns fans during Saturday’s preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. He completed just 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and threw an interception in the game.
Afterward, Watson called the reaction personal and disrespectful.
That makes the decision to name him the starter even more controversial.
Head coach Todd Monken, however, made it clear that Watson’s comments weren’t going to determine the quarterback decision. He said the choice would be based on evaluating the quarterbacks and determining who gives Cleveland the best chance to win.
So… Did Cleveland Make the Right Call?
That’s the question Browns fans are going to be arguing about.
Watson has experience, but he’s also coming off a long injury absence and hasn’t consistently looked like the quarterback Cleveland hoped he would become.
Sanders is younger and still developing, but he has already shown flashes in Cleveland.
The Browns have chosen experience for Week 1.
Now Watson has to prove they made the right decision.
And with Cleveland opening the season on the road against Jacksonville, he won’t have to wait long to start answering the critics.
One thing is certain: if Watson struggles early, Browns fans will be calling for Shedeur Sanders very quickly.
