Todd Monken drops Browns’ starting quarterback battle update after Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders’ 2026 debut against Bears
We had our first look at the options to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback in 2026 with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders facing the Bears. Following the first preseason game, Browns head coach Todd Monken gave an update on the QB battle.
The Cleveland Browns got their first look at the starting quarterback options in the opening preseason game against the Chicago Bears on the road Saturday. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders played the majority of the game, with Watson getting the entire first half, Sanders getting three drives in the second half, and Dillon Gabriel closing things out in part of the fourth quarter.
The Browns were on the wrong side of a 34-10 loss to Chicago, and it was a game where both quarterbacks had moments they’d want back.
Watson went 11-of-15 passing for 126 yards and was sacked one time. He also lost a fumble on a play where rookie offensive tackle Austin Barber was beat. Sanders finished 6-of-11 passing for 79 yards with one interception. Gabriel was 5-of-8 for 23 yards and one interception of his own.
Watson and Sanders both had a couple of good plays mixed in with the mistakes. It was the first evaluation of either quarterback in a game setting this season, and a very important week is coming up for Cleveland and the quarterback battle.
Todd Monken lays out the plan for the week ahead with the QB battle
Following the game, head coach Todd Monken gave an update on how things will work from here.
“I mean, the plan was always to get through the Bills game, switch up who was going to start, who’s going to play in the second half, and then we’ll go from there,” Monken said after the game. “Every day is important. Monday is going to be important, right? Being in the meeting rooms are going to be important. Listening to the players talk about what they saw, right? That’s part of it too.”
What they saw, how they feel. We’ll go back to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Have a great practice against Buffalo. Then we’ll walk through on Friday, and then we’ll go compete our rear ends off against the Bills and see where we’re at, and then we’ll reevaluate.”
Monken praised Watson for his ability to get back on the field Saturday for the first time in 22 months following two Achilles surgeries after an injury in 2024, the last time he played for the Browns. Cleveland’s entire offensive starting group played with Watson early on before they moved to a second-team offensive line outside of rookie left tackle Spencer Fano. Watson was able to connect on some nice plays with both rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, which is what you’d like to see from the veteran quarterback getting reacclimated to game action.
This next week against Buffalo, with joint practices and the preseason game, is going to be crucial in the Browns’ decision at starting quarterback. Time will tell how Monken and the staff evaluate both Watson and Sanders after they get more game film to work with.
