The Cleveland Browns quarterback battle is over. Head coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson the starter on Monday following a competition with Shedeur Sanders that stretched from offseason OTAs through the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

For Watson, the decision represents a return from the Achilles injury he suffered in 2024 that forced him to miss the entire 2025 season. For Sanders, it’s a tough outcome. The former fifth-round pick has been on a mission to prove he belongs as a starter in the NFL, believing he fell far below where he deserved on draft day.

Monken made clear this is not a week-to-week arrangement. Watson has solidified the job unless something goes sideways, which, as Browns fans know, has happened before in Cleveland.

Todd Monken praises Shedeur Sanders’ response to the decision

In terms of how Sanders accepted the news, Monken had nothing but praise for his young quarterback’s maturity. 

“He was awesome,” Monken stated. “I mean, you talk about somebody that really understands the long game, and really, I think has come to understand the long game, right? What are we really in this for? What am I in it for? To have the Browns be an organization that people aspire to be. Right? The long game. Right? Where do we want to be in the long term?”

And he understands that as well as a quarterback. Right? Where he was at, where he’s at now, where he wants to get to-that is what’s so awesome about Shedeur understanding that. We met this morning for a good long time, and all he had was a smile on his face because he understands.”

That’s the kind of response you want to see from a young player who didn’t get the news he hoped for, especially coming off a preseason performance where he frankly outplayed Watson by a large margin against the Bills.

Shedeur Sanders outplayed Deshaun Watson against Buffalo

The numbers from that second preseason game tell a clear story. Sanders finished 9-of-11 passing for 74 yards and a touchdown pass with one interception that was the receiver’s fault just as much as his. Watson, meanwhile, went 5-of-12 for 36 yards with an interception and simply hasn’t shown he can push the ball down the field the way Sanders has to this point.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Sanders, but the reality is that Watson’s experience and the organization’s investment in him made this the expected outcome regardless of preseason tape.

History has shown that Cleveland is likely to play multiple starting quarterbacks in a given season. Sanders will serve as Watson’s backup, and he has to stay ready to play. His ability to handle this moment with poise will only strengthens his case when his opportunity comes.