The Cleveland Browns offered their clearest signal yet in the quarterback competition during Saturday’s practice — and it did not favor Shedeur Sanders.
Head coach Todd Monken previously indicated that a change in the distribution of practice reps would provide a clue about which direction the team was leaning. That shift appeared to arrive Saturday, when Deshaun Watson received a significant share of the first-team work and opened several drills with the starting offense.
The development was notable because Monken said before practice that it was Sanders’ scheduled day with the starters. Watson and Sanders had alternated first-team days throughout training camp, with each generally receiving a full complement of reps when running with the starting unit.
“Another set of 7-on-7s and Deshaun Watson is up first with the 1s,” ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi wrote on X. “It was supposed to be Shedeur Sanders’ day with the 1s, but it’s been a complete reversal of reps through the first half of practice.”
It does not settle the competition. However, the unexpected reversal represented the strongest indication yet that Watson may be gaining a grip on the No. 1 role.
Browns Closing In on Preseason QB Decision
The timing of the rep change adds to its significance. Monken said the Browns expect to decide by Monday which quarterback will start the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on August 15.
The Browns have evaluated Watson and Sanders throughout the offseason program and training camp. Monken said the preseason order will be based on that entire body of work, not simply the outcome of one practice.
Monken also made it clear that the quarterback who takes the first snap against Chicago will not automatically be declared Cleveland’s regular-season starter. The Browns plan to give both quarterbacks opportunities during the preseason, with the competition expected to extend beyond the opener.
Still, Monken wants the offense to function at a high level regardless of which quarterback gets the first opportunity.
“Even in a preseason game, the win-loss won’t matter, but how we play is going to matter to me,” Monken said. “How we function offensively. Whoever we put out there, we want the product to look like you want it to look like. So ultimately that’ll be the start of it.”
Deshaun Watson Gaining Momentum in Browns QB Battle
GettyBEREA, OHIO – JUNE 03: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Watson’s increased workload comes after he produced his best practice of training camp earlier in the week.
Watson is attempting to revive his career after missing all of last season while recovering from Achilles injuries. He has appeared in only 19 games since joining Cleveland in 2022, throwing 19 touchdowns while posting a 9-10 record as the starter.
Sanders is trying to build on an uneven rookie campaign in which he went 3-4 across seven starts. He completed 56.6% of his passes while throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The Browns have maintained that the competition will be determined by performance — not age, contracts or future considerations. Saturday’s practice did not deliver a final verdict, but Watson taking over first-team periods on what was scheduled to be Sanders’ day is difficult to dismiss.
Shedeur Sanders Gets Bad News in Browns QB Battle