Browns HC Todd Monken just fed the Shedeur Sanders’ fans what they wanted to hear as he battles Deshaun Watson for the starting job
Cleveland Browns are back on the field this week in OTAs with all eyes on the starting quarterback battle. Todd Monken’s latest update on Shedeur Sanders is a promising one on where he stands.
The Cleveland Browns are holding voluntary OTAs this week and much of the attention is focused on the starting quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
As expected, both quarterbacks spent time with the ones and twos on Wednesday as Cleveland works toward finding out who its starter will be for the 2026 season. There’s momentum for the starter to be Watson, but the second-year quarterback Sanders isn’t going down without a fight. First-year head coach Todd Monken would like to have a starter named heading into training camp, but it’s not a must.
Todd Monken’s latest update on Shedeur Sanders is a good sign for the Cleveland Browns
Sanders showed flashes of what he can be last year even as a fifth-round pick. Sanders was 3-4 as a starter for the Browns as a rookie and recorded seven passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions to go along with 1,400 passing yards. When adding in the pair of fumbles he lost, turnovers, and decision-making were an early problem for Sanders.
“I think Shedeur’s come miles in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts,” Monken said on Wednesday afternoon. “I think he’s really, really come a long way.”
The Browns have Sanders as the biggest threat to win the job over Watson for the starting QB job. Then, it’s fellow second-year QB Dillon Gabriel and rookie sixth-round pick QB Taylen Green in the room. Even if Watson does end up the starter, history shows all of these guys have to be ready to play.
Playing on time and getting the ball to the right spots at the right moment are key for a quarterback to have success in the NFL. Sanders did a good job at Colorado of operating the offense on time but that quickly went away as a rookie. Monken wouldn’t be just saying this either, so it’s a good development.
Mandatory OTAs will take place next month and we very well could have a starting quarterback named then. It’s clear Sanders has improved, we’ll see if it’ll be enough to be the Week 1 starter against the Jacksonville Jaguars.