The Browns are still sorting out their quarterback picture, and for now, that means Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will keep sharing the work as Cleveland heads into a busy week against the Bills.
After Cleveland’s 34-10 preseason Week 1 loss at Chicago, the sense around the team is that neither quarterback has fully taken control of the job. Watson started against the Bears, while Sanders is on track to start the Browns’ home preseason game against Buffalo on Aug.
- First-year head coach Todd Monken laid out how the reps will be divided during the week, including Thursday’s joint practices with the Bills.
"I think we’re going to go Shedeur on Monday and Wednesday, and Deshaun Tuesday and Thursday, but Thursday is really both," Monken said about when the quarterbacks will work with the first-team offense, per the Browns' website. "I’m meeting with (Bills head coach) Joe Brady here...we’re trying to get blocks set up and run-downs so we can get 16 plays where maybe we go five with the ones, three with the twos, five with the ones, three with the twos, which means both quarterbacks get five reps in each block. Run-downs, pass-downs, red zone, two-minute, those kinds of things we’re going to work through in 27 minutes."
Monken also said he is not ready to name a starter before Cleveland faces Buffalo this Saturday, according to Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand.
That approach comes despite outside concern that the Browns are behind schedule with less than a month left before their regular-season opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13. Grossi and others have pointed to the fact that Sanders and Watson are still splitting first-team reps as a sign that Cleveland still has work to do.
Both quarterbacks had uneven outings against Chicago. Watson completed 11-of-15 passes for 126 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions, but he did not really challenge the defense deep.
He also lost a fumble on his only sack of the day. Sanders went 6-of-11 for 79 yards and threw an interception that stood out for all the wrong reasons.
Even so, Monken said the competition deserves to continue into this week.
"I did feel going into last game that it was relatively close in terms of both having an opportunity at the starting position, so it would be unfair to not go into the next game and give Shedeur that same opportunity," Monken explained. "Albeit a different team, certainly at home. There’s no guarantee the same players will be playing in this game, but it’s the closest you have, and we owe it to both players, who have handled it well and competed at a high level."
There is still a clear test ahead for Sanders. Browns reporter Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan said Sanders may need to "absolutely kill it this week" in practices and against the Bills on Aug. 22 to pass Watson on the depth chart. How Sanders responds now becomes the next part of the story.
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