Browns Give Preseason Finale to Third-Quarterback Contenders as Watson and Sanders Locked In

Cleveland head coach Todd Monken announced that the Browns will not play starter Deshaun Watson or backup Shedeur Sanders in the Thursday preseason finale against the New England Patriots. Second-year draft pick Dillon Gabriel will start, and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green will take over after Gabriel. With Watson officially named the Week 1 starter and Sanders confirmed as the backup, the Thursday game becomes a de facto audition for the No. 3 quarterback spot and a final chance for Gabriel and Green to earn a place on the 53-player roster before the cut-down deadline.

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The quarterback competition began in the offseason, pitting veteran Watson against former Alabama star Sanders. Monken ultimately framed the battle as a two-man race, selecting Watson as the starter on Monday and keeping Sanders as the designated backup. Gabriel, a third-round pick (No. 94 overall) who appeared in ten games as a rookie, and Green, a 6-foot-6 dual-threat taken in the sixth round, were never intended to challenge for the top two spots. Their preseason roles have therefore shifted to a fight for the third-string position as roster cuts approach.

Bleacher Report

• Dillon Gabriel (2023 rookie season): 59.5 % completion rate, 937 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions in 10 games.

Newsweek

• Taylen Green (2023 college season with Arkansas): 60.7 % completions for 2,714 yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 777 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. He posted a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and a 43.5-inch vertical at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Newsweek

• Deshaun Watson (career through 2024): 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions in 19 games; 61.2 % completion rate; 70 sacks taken; Browns record in his starts 9-10.

Bleacher Report

• Shedeur Sanders (2022 rookie season): 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions in eight games; 56.6 % completion rate; 23 sacks taken; Browns record in his starts 3-4.

Bleacher Report

Monken told reporters that the decision to keep Watson and Sanders out of the finale was mutual with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, emphasizing the desire to give extended reps to the younger quarterbacks. The Browns have not confirmed whether either Gabriel or Green will survive the final cuts, leaving their roster status uncertain.

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• “I’m excited for Dillon and seeing Taylen,” — Todd Monken, head coach

Newsweek

• The Browns have not disclosed whether Gabriel and Green will make the final 53-man roster, creating uncertainty about the ultimate outcome of Thursday’s audition.

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• No official comment has been provided regarding the potential impact of the quarterback depth-chart decision on the team’s offensive strategy for the regular season.

Newsweek