Todd Monken might be digging a hole he can’t get out of after latest Browns’ decision for Week 2
The Cleveland Browns have decided on their starting quarterback for Week 2, and it might point to Todd Monken putting himself in a bad spot.
The Cleveland Browns are trying to pick up the pieces from their 34-10 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, and the quarterback decision for Week 2 is in.
Todd Monken has made his call, and the Browns are sticking with Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Cleveland will face their former quarterback Baker Mayfield on the road.
Monken said he anticipates Watson being the starter against Tampa Bay and that it wasn’t all bad against the Jaguars. The Browns head coach said he saw some good things on film coming away from the Week 1 loss against Jacksonville. That is a tough sell to Browns fans who are having trouble finding any positive to hold on to regarding their quarterback.
Starting Deshaun Watson is risky for Todd Monken
Watson finished 16-of-22 for 205 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and was sacked five times against the Jaguars. While that line may seem efficient on paper, the majority of those completions were short throws that are going to be completed regardless. Multiple sacks were Watson’s own doing rather than breakdowns by the offensive line.
Watson also had a 46-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston late in the fourth quarter during garbage time, which inflated his numbers when the game was already decided. Neither side of the football played particularly well for Cleveland, and special teams may have been the best of all three phases.
It’s apparent already after one game that Watson is not going to give the Browns starting-level quarterback play in 2026. Sticking with him is a questionable move at best. It’s either an indictment on Shedeur Sanders and where he’s at behind Watson, or this was a pre-made decision that Watson would get several games to show his abilities with this new coaching staff.
Todd Monken may be digging himself into a hole
Either way, Monken has himself in a tough spot. The Browns need to win football games this year. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said during the offseason that he would take the over on Cleveland’s win total, which sits at 5.5. He believes the Browns should win six or more games. This is an owner who is not afraid to pull the rug out from under any coach or general manager. The Browns as an organization have gone through numerous coaches, and if Monken doesn’t win some games this year, he’ll be one and done and join that growing list of fired coaches from Cleveland.
Sticking with Watson as the guy might be Monken starting to dig a hole he can’t get out of.
The Browns have two road games to open the season before returning home in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. If Watson does not play well against the Buccaneers this coming Sunday, don’t be surprised if Sanders is starting at home in front of the crowd against the Panthers.
Watson has had since 2022 to show the Browns any hint of being a franchise-level quarterback, and he’s done the complete opposite. He has shown them time and time again that he is not the player they had hoped for when they traded for him, and that he is not a starting-level quarterback in the NFL. Still, the Browns keep trotting him out there, and it’s hard to see Week 2 against the Buccaneers going any different.
