The Cleveland Browns turned in a dud of a performance in their second preseason contest, as they suffered a 31-7 loss at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. Considering how reports indicated this game would play a big role in determining who would win the Browns’ starting quarterback job, it’s safe to say that this was a less-than-inspiring performance.
Shedeur Sanders ended up putting together a better outing (9/11, 74 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT), although he didn’t have much competition, as Deshaun Watson struggled mightily during his time on the field (5/12, 36 YDS, 1 INT). For the most part, Watson has been viewed as the frontrunner to win this gig, but in the wake of this performance, one insider dropped a truth bomb on Sanders’ quest to steal the job from him.
Shedeur Sanders Has ‘Compelling Case’ for Browns’ Starting Quarterback Job
The quarterback competition taking place in Cleveland has been so compelling for a couple of reasons. Both Sanders and Watson are divisive figures, and to this point, neither guy has managed to run away with his job. Watson appeared to be in the pole position, but Sanders thoroughly outplayed him on Saturday against Buffalo.
What this means moving forward is unknown. The Browns have to figure out how big of an impact Watson’s poor outing will play into their decision-making process. Beyond that, if Watson isn’t the guy, is Cleveland comfortable turning things over to Sanders? Simply put, there are a lot of different angles head coach Todd Monken and his staff will have to consider.
There’s also the fact that whoever ends up being the starting quarterback will have to emerge as a leader in the locker room. Whether or not Watson can do that at this stage of his career is unknown, especially given all the off-field drama he has dealt with. In that regard, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN believes Sanders has a serious leg up over Watson that could help him in his quest to earn the starting job.
“When I talk to people with the Browns, the word ‘presence,’ the word ‘aura’ comes up,” Fowler said on “SportsCenter.” “He has something to him that has certainly helped his cause, and he played well yesterday (vs. the Bills). He’s made a compelling case at the very least here.”
Browns Have Big Decision to Make at the Quarterback Position
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 22: Deshaun Watson #4, Shedeur Sanders #2 and Dillon Gabriel #6 of the Cleveland Browns take the field prior to a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field on August 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The Browns find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the quarterback position. It’d be one thing if both of these guys played well enough to earn the starting job, but things have actually gone in the opposite direction, as they both have struggled enough that either one of them could conceivably win the job.
Sanders may very well be ready to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback, but the safe play would probably involve throwing Watson into the fire to begin the season. Should that happen, he’d likely have a very short leash, meaning it may not be very long until Sanders finds the field, even if he comes up short in this position battle. And yet, with all that being said, he could still wind up winning the starting job right out of the gate.
Shedeur Sanders Receives Eye-Opening Update in Browns QB Competition