Cleveland’s quarterback situation is already drawing heat before Week 1, and Mary Kay Cabot’s latest comments only added fuel to the fire.
In her “Hey, Mary Kay” mailbag, the Browns insider addressed the chatter around Shedeur Sanders and whether the rookie Taylen Green could be in line for QB2 duties while Sanders sits out the season opener. Cabot didn’t shut the door on the possibility, and her answer left enough room for Browns fans to wonder what the staff is thinking behind the scenes.
“He worked so hard during camp and is so smart that Monken must be tempted to throw him into the fire and see if he can convert a fourth and 1 or otherwise surprise the defense,” Cabot wrote. “It was very impressive to hear Green talk about writing down plays over and over until he can’t get it wrong.
“His attention to detail is impeccable, and will give him a chance to get on the field perhaps sooner than the staff thought he might. As for whether or not it will be Week 1, that would be risky given Watson’s injury profile. But stranger things have happened.”
The possibility of Sanders being inactive for the opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars is enough to set off alarms for supporters who want to see how the team views him long term. If that scenario comes to pass, it would say plenty about where the Browns’ coaching staff and front office see the second-year quarterback fitting into the bigger picture.
Cabot also weighed in on how quickly Cleveland might turn to Sanders if Deshaun Watson stumbles out of the gate. Watson has the starting job for now, but there’s no hiding the pressure that comes with his history in Cleveland.
“I think it will be imperative for Watson to play well in those first two games in Jacksonville and Tampa to build up some goodwill chips for that first home game against the Panthers on Sept. 27,” Cabot wrote.
“I don’t think Monken has Watson on a short leash at all, but I do think he will be judged on his performance, and he will need to perform well to keep the job. As long as Watson plays well in those first two games and puts some points on the board, I think fans will give him a chance when he comes home.”
Watson’s return to Huntington Bank Field in preseason didn’t exactly calm the waters. He was booed by Browns fans, and his frustrated reaction after the game only made the situation louder. With that backdrop, Watson enters the season needing a strong start if he wants to hold off Sanders and keep the conversation from getting even more intense.
In Other News...
Browns Just Made A Cornerback Decision Fans Will Hate
The Browns continued to shuffle their cornerback room by signing Noah Igbinoghene and sending undrafted rookie Michael Coats Jr. to the practice squad, a move that immediately stood out because Coats had turned heads in preseason action. Igbinoghene brings six years of NFL experience, but most of that resume has come with limited results and a heavy emphasis on special teams, which makes this more than a routine depth adjustment for a defense trying to sort out its back end.
For Cleveland, the decision also adds another layer to an offseason that has already sparked questions about how the team balances proven experience against the upside of younger players. Coats showed enough in the summer to at least put himself in the conversation, so moving him off the main roster suggests the Browns still see something different in how they want that spot handled. Whether this is a short-term reset or a sign of where the staff is leaning with its developmental priorities is the part that will keep fans watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Just Reopened A Backup QB Battle Behind Deshaun Watson
With the Browns working through the final stretch before Week 1, Todd Monken left the door open to a backup quarterback competition behind Deshaun Watson. The roster already has four quarterbacks on it, with rookie Taylen Green now in the conversation alongside Shedeur Sanders, while Dillon Gabriel is on injured reserve and not part of the immediate mix. Watson is coming back after multiple injuries, which has made the depth chart behind him a topic worth watching.
Monken said it is possible Cleveland could activate three quarterbacks on game day, though he stopped short of saying that will happen. That leaves the Browns with a little more uncertainty than teams usually want heading into the opener, especially with two young passers trying to carve out a role behind a starter still proving he can stay on the field. For now, the backup job remains unsettled, and the next few practices will matter for anyone hoping to dress on Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Have 3 Defensive Starters Berry Should Lock In Now
The Browns have already done some of their important defensive housekeeping by locking up cornerback Denzel Ward and safety Grant Delpit, but the work in the secondary and along the front is far from finished. With 17 players scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency after the season, Cleveland is staring at another round of roster decisions, and the defense again figures to be at the center of it. The good news for the Browns is that they do have cap space and enough depth at these spots to give themselves some breathing room.
Among the names worth watching are Maliek Collins, Ronnie Hickman and Isaiah McGuire, three starters whose futures could soon come into focus. Cleveland does not need to rush every decision, but the front office has the flexibility to start getting ahead of the market now rather than waiting until the offseason gets crowded. For a team trying to keep its defensive core intact, these are the kinds of extensions that can shape the next phase of the roster. [Read more 🡒]