The Cleveland Browns will have to make some tough roster decisions.
Cleveland has four quarterbacks on the roster, and there are some question marks about who will start and who will make the roster. It was reported that Deshaun Watson will be the starting quarterback, to some surprise.
With Watson as the starter, Shedeur Sanders is set to be the backup, but Gabriel’s future is up in the air. Yet, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi predicted Cleveland will keep all four quarterbacks on the roster.
“Keeping four quarterbacks on an active roster is unheard of in the NFL,” Oyefusi wrote. “However, Cleveland is effectively using Green’s rookie season as a redshirt year. And between Watson’s struggles, injury history and the reception from the home crowd in the second preseason game — he was met with loud boos — the Browns might opt to keep Gabriel on the 53-man roster as another backup option.”
Keeping all four quarterbacks does seem a surprise and sort of a waste of a roster spot, but perhaps Cleveland can look to trade Gabriel for a mid-round pick.
Deshaun Watson Took Aim at Browns Fans
GettyDeshaun Watson took aim at Browns fans.
After the Browns preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Watson took aim at the fanbase.
Watson was booed while he was on the field, which he wasn’t pleased about.
“The only time I feel that energy is when I’m in the stadium or it’s on social media,” Watson said. “Like I mentioned before, when I’m in public, no one’s mentioning anything. So I think that’s the only time those people who are holding it in is trying to disrupt the energy. Because on social media, players can’t respond back and in the stadium, players can’t respond back.
“So, I get it, I understand it. It is what it is. . . . I don’t know. It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love on road games than I do at home games. So if it is my spot and [coach Todd Monken] does make me the starter, maybe it’s 17 away games, then. I don’t know.”
After the Browns named Watson the starting quarterback, it’s likely Cleveland fans will continue to boo him.
Todd Monken on QB Decision
Before the Browns made a quarterback decision, Monken spoke to the media and praised both Watson and Sanders.
Despite Browns fans booing Watson, Monken said that would have no impact on his decision.
“I’m not concerned about the first home game. I’m concerned about who will give us the best chance to win the first week. We’ll get to that when we get to it. My reaction was, a young man who has worked awfully hard to get back to where he is now, and he wants to, in the worst way, to play winning football for the Browns organization and the fans,” Monken said.
“It didn’t go as we had hoped or as he did, I’m sure. I think we have to be a little careful of judging someone right after he goes out to play, feeling like he’s put in the work, and then to not perform as well as he wanted. We all want to be appreciated. He spoke from the heart, and I don’t ever blame someone that speaks from the heart. If someone were to ask if I feel like he doesn’t have confidence, I don’t see that. Every day I see a young man who has confidence, and he wanted to perform in the worst way at a high level.”
The Browns will open their season on Sept. 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Browns Predicted to Make Surprising QB Move After Watson Decision