The Cleveland Browns‘ quarterback battle may have gotten more complicated after Saturday’s 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. 

First-year head coach Todd Monken had hoped to name a starting quarterback on Monday, but the way this game played out could make that timeline difficult. Shedeur Sanders outperformed Deshaun Watson in a game that gave Browns fans plenty to talk about heading into the final stretch of the preseason.

Shedeur Sanders makes his case with the Browns

Sanders got what could be his last real opportunity to make his mark on the starting quarterback competition, and he made the most of it. Operating with Cleveland’s second-team offense against Buffalo’s backups, Sanders looked sharp for most of the afternoon. He led the Browns’ only scoring drive through three quarters and finished 9-of-11 passing for 74 yards, one touchdown pass, one interception, and one sack.

The interception wasn’t entirely on Sanders. The ball was slightly behind his intended target, hit the receiver’s hands, and popped up into the air. Sanders connected with Luke Floriea for the Browns’ only touchdown of the day, and Floriea finished with 31 receiving yards. The connection between Sanders and Floriea continues to be a positive development worth monitoring. It was a solid showing from Sanders, and he clearly outplayed Watson on Saturday.

Deshaun Watson gets booed off the field four times

The second big takeaway from Saturday’s loss was Watson’s performance and the fan reaction that came with it. Watson took the field for four drives and was booed off the field each time. That tells you everything about where Browns fans stand on their potential starting quarterback.

Watson finished 5-of-12  passing for 35 yards and one interception. Cleveland went three-and-out twice before Watson turned the ball over with an interception to cap his third drive. Naming Watson the starter on Monday after a performance like that would be a tough look for Monken and the coaching staff. Although the crowd wasn’t at full capacity, the boos could be heard clearly.

Mike Hall Jr. flashes versatility from the edge

The third takeaway from the game involved defensive lineman Mike Hall Jr., who is entering an important third season with the Browns. Cleveland came into the game lacking edge depth after a recent injury to defensive end Alex Wright earlier in the week. Defensive end Jared Verse didn’t play because the Browns held out most of their starters.

With those absences, Hall moved from defensive tackle to the edge, where he recorded one sack and generated multiple pressures. He looked the part rushing from the outside despite being 6-foot-3 and around 300 pounds. His versatility along the defensive line could earn him reps on surefire passing downs for Cleveland this season. Hall showed he can be trusted from the edge, and that’s a meaningful development for a Browns defense looking to maximize its talent up front.

Monken’s quarterback decision looms large over the coming days. Sanders made a strong case Saturday, and Watson’s struggles only added more weight to the conversation. Time will tell how the first-year head coach handles it. I expect the decision may end up delayed a bit.