The Browns have put their quarterback plan on paper, and it leaves Shedeur Sanders in a familiar spot: right behind Deshaun Watson.
Watson is set to start Sunday in Jacksonville, and the unofficial Week 1 depth chart makes Sanders the No. 2 quarterback. Rookie Taylen Green is listed third, while Dillon Gabriel opens the year on injured reserve because of a back injury. The chart mostly confirmed what had already been expected in Berea, but it settled the last bit of noise around the room.
Daniel Oyefusi reported that Todd Monken still views Sanders as the backup for the opener. “Shedeur Sanders is expected to be the Browns’ backup QB in Week 1, Todd Monken said.” That was the final word on the immediate pecking order.
Green could still be used in a package if Monken decides to add a wrinkle, though the coach has already made it clear that carrying three quarterbacks on game day is a lot. Even with the extra insurance, the room is crowded.
Watson won the offseason race after coming back from injury under Monken, and the Browns are giving him the first snap. Sanders, meanwhile, started the final seven games last year and finished with 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in that stretch.
The conversation around Sanders has been loud all summer. Coaches and executives voted him last among thirty-five quarterbacks in The Athletic’s summer poll, and one exec said the gap to competent play looked huge. Trade chatter also bubbled up with an AFC rival earlier in the summer before going quiet.
Cleveland kept Sanders on the 53-man roster and entered the season with him as QB2. Gabriel’s injury took one more quarterback out of the mix, and the competition changed more than once after voluntary workouts. Mary Kay Cabot first had Watson in front, then said Sanders had closed the gap in camp, but Monken still handed Watson the opening nod.
For now, the order is simple: Watson first, Sanders second, Green third. Sanders will dress and wait.
Kickoff in Jacksonville is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS this Sunday.
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