Full Breakdown
Cleveland Browns Practice Reps Tilt Toward Deshaun Watson in QB Competition
8/9/2026, 12:07:56 AM
Practice Reps Signal a Shift in the Quarterback Race
During Saturday’s training-camp session, head coach Todd Monken altered the planned distribution of first-team reps, giving Deshaun Watson the opening series of 7-on-7 drills that had been slated for Shedeur Sanders. The reversal was the most concrete indication yet that Watson is edging ahead in the battle for the preseason starter slot. Monken has said the team will decide by the following Monday which quarterback will open the preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 15, though the first-snap decision will not automatically determine the regular-season starter.
Recent Performance and Season History
Watson is seeking to revive his career after missing the entire 2023 season due to Achilles injuries. Since joining Cleveland in 2022, he has appeared in 19 games, throwing 19 touchdowns and posting a 9-10 record as a starter. Sanders, in his rookie year, compiled a 3-4 record over seven starts, completing 56.6 % of his passes with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions. Both players have received alternating first-team days throughout camp, but Watson’s “best practice of training camp” earlier in the week preceded the recent rep shift.
Coaching Perspective
Monken emphasized that the preseason starter will be chosen on the basis of overall performance, not age, contract status, or future considerations. He also stressed that the quality of offensive play, rather than win-loss outcomes, will guide his evaluation: “Even in a preseason game, the win-loss won’t matter, but how we play is going to matter to me,” he said.
