The Cleveland Browns made one of the most important decisions of their 2026 offseason preparation: Deshaun Watson will be the starting quarterback in Week 1 ahead of Shedeur Sanders.
Coach Todd Monken reached the decision after several weeks of competition during training camp and the preseason. Both quarterbacks received opportunities with the first-team offense and started a preseason game, but Watson was ultimately selected to begin the campaign.
Deshaun Watson won the competition
Watson and Sanders alternated first-team repetitions for much of training camp. The competition remained open even after the first two preseason games.
In the first game, Watson started and completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards. Sanders later entered and finished 6 of 11 for 79 yards and an interception.
In the second game, Sanders started and completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Watson entered later and finished 5 of 12 for 36 yards and one interception.
Although Sanders had better numbers in some areas during the second game, Monken said the decision needed to consider the entire body of work from training camp and the preseason.
The decision comes after a difficult week for Watson
Watson's selection comes after a particularly difficult week for the veteran quarterback. During his return to a home game, Watson was heavily booed by Cleveland fans during the loss to the Buffalo Bills.
After the game, the quarterback described the reaction as personal and expressed frustration about how he was received. His comments created another round of discussion about his relationship with the fan base and his future with the Browns.
Monken, however, said those comments would not affect his decision. The coach explained that the evaluation would be based on which quarterback gives Cleveland the best chance to win in Week 1.
Shedeur Sanders will have to wait
Sanders will begin the season as one of the team's primary alternatives behind Watson. The second-year quarterback received significant opportunities during training camp and the preseason but did not win the starting job.
His performance against Buffalo showed several positive elements. Sanders led a 65-yard Cleveland drive in the first half and finished the possession with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Luke Floriea.
He also threw an interception, however, and the overall quarterback competition was evaluated using a much larger sample of performances.
Watson gets another major opportunity
For Watson, the decision represents an opportunity to change the perception surrounding his time in Cleveland. His Browns career has been complicated by injuries and suspension, and he has played only a limited number of games since joining the team.
He also missed the entire previous season after suffering an Achilles injury. His return in 2026 therefore represents another chance to prove he can still produce as an NFL starting quarterback.
The pressure will be significant. Watson will have to respond on the field while attempting to rebuild the trust of a fan base that has clearly expressed its frustration.
When do the Browns begin the season?
Cleveland will open the regular season on Sept. 13 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns will then visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before hosting the Carolina Panthers in their home opener.
That gives Watson two road games to establish the direction of the offense before returning to Cleveland.
The Browns still have one preseason game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, Aug. 27. Monken had already indicated that he did not expect to play the starters in that game, meaning Watson will likely have to wait until Week 1 to officially begin his new role as Cleveland's starting quarterback.
The decision has been made, but the real evaluation begins when the games count. Deshaun Watson will once again have control of the Cleveland offense and will have to prove that the Browns made the right choice.