The Cleveland Browns have named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback for the 2026 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13, choosing him over second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Head coach Todd Monken confirmed the decision at a press conference, ending a preseason competition that had drawn far more attention than a typical backup battle.
The decision comes despite a preseason in which Sanders outproduced Watson: Sanders completed 68.2% of his passes for 153 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions over two preseason games, while Watson completed 59.3% for 162 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. It will be Watson’s first game action since tearing his Achilles on October 10, 2024, an injury he re-tore in January 2025, sidelining him for all of last season.
Why the Decision Drew Criticism
Watson is signed to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, one of the largest in NFL history, and was booed by Browns fans following his Week 2 preseason performance against Buffalo. He responded by calling the crowd’s reaction “personal” and “disrespectful,” comments that added to scrutiny of the decision given his statistical performance trailed Sanders’ across the preseason.
What Monken Has Said About the Competition
Coaches have maintained that starting Watson reflects more than preseason stats alone, pointing to practice reps, chemistry with the starting offensive line, and game-planning continuity that a backup quarterback doesn’t get in limited preseason snaps. Whether that reasoning holds up will depend entirely on how Watson performs once the games count, starting September 13.
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