After one preseason weekend, the Browns still don’t have a clean answer at quarterback for 2026. That might have been fine if somebody had seized the job in a big way. Instead, Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both came out flat, Dillon Gabriel didn’t help his case, and Taylen Green never got on the field.
So maybe the real answer isn’t sitting in Cleveland’s own quarterback room at all.
The Browns may want to keep their attention trained on what’s happening in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers are juggling a quarterback picture that could create an unexpected opening. Aaron Rodgers is set to lead the team in what’s being called his swan song season, with Mason Rudolph currently behind him. But the real complication is the pair of younger quarterbacks: second-year sixth-rounder Will Howard and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar.
According to Steelers expert Shayne Kubas of FanSided’s Still Curtain, Pittsburgh has at least talked about carrying four quarterbacks, but that path doesn’t sound likely.
"The Steelers' brass have made multiple comments about the idea of keeping four QBs on their 53-man roster this year," Kubas said. "It's hard to imagine that they would actually go forward with that plan. It's more likely that they keep three, with one of Mason Rudolph or Will Howard getting axed.
As it stands, it looks like it would be Howard who would be looking for a new NFL home in that scenario. Rudolph may lack the youth and potential upside of Howard, but he is a veteran that HC Mike McCarthy seems to trust as Aaron Rodgers' backup."
That’s where things get interesting for Cleveland.
Howard is no mystery to Ohio football fans. He finished his college career by leading Ohio State to the national championship, then dealt with a hand injury that kept him out of the preseason and much of the regular season of his rookie year. He finally got his first real crack at the pro stage in Pittsburgh’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, and he made it count.
Howard went 7-for-9 for 86 yards and earned an 86.5 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked fifth among the 91 quarterbacks who took a snap last week.
It was only one preseason game, but compared with what Cleveland got from its own quarterbacks, that’s enough to matter.
Green still has believers, and the source here makes clear that support exists. But the larger picture is getting harder to ignore: Gabriel could pitch himself out of a roster spot, and Green may not be long for the Browns either. If Cleveland is serious about searching every corner for a quarterback, it may need to be willing to look beyond its own building and into waiver wire territory - even if that means considering a player from a division rival.
Howard is not being crowned a star off one sharp preseason showing. But if he keeps playing like that, he could become one of the more interesting names on cutdown day, which comes August 30. And if the Browns’ current quarterback situation doesn’t improve over the next two weeks, they’ll have every reason to watch Pittsburgh a little more closely.
In Other News...
Browns Offense Finally Showed Something Fans Have Been Waiting For
A joint practice against the Bills gave the Browns a chance to measure themselves against another roster, and for once the offense came away with something to build on. Head coach Todd Monken said Cleveland looked like it belonged on the field, a notable step for a group that has spent much of camp trying to find its footing. There were still mistakes and some injuries to sort through, but the overall impression was more encouraging than the usual late-summer noise around an offense still trying to settle in.
The offensive line also showed progress, which matters just as much as any flashier moment in practice because it sets the tone for everything else. Cleveland still has a long way to go before anyone can draw conclusions about the season opener, but this was the kind of day that can hint at a unit starting to mesh. For a Browns team looking for signs of cohesion, it was at least a reminder that the offense may be moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Quinshon Judkins Injury Should Ease One Big Browns Concern
Quinshon Judkins has been working through a nagging injury during training camp and the preseason, which kept the Browns running back out of practice for stretches at a time. Even so, head coach Todd Monken has framed the absence as precautionary, and the early read is that Cleveland is not dealing with a major setback as it builds toward the start of the season.
For a Browns team that is counting on Judkins to lead the backfield in 2026, that matters. He enters the year as the expected feature back and a player with real fantasy football appeal, so every missed practice naturally draws attention, but the current outlook suggests Cleveland may be able to move past one of its bigger camp concerns without it turning into a season-opening problem. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Preseason Is Already Shaking Up Several Key Position Battles
Spring practices and the early run of preseason work have already started to move a few Cleveland Browns players into more visible spots on the depth chart. Rookies and other younger pieces have taken advantage of the chance to show up in camp, with names like Mascarenas-Arnold, Fano, Barber, Ryan, Concepcion and Boston all surfacing as players worth watching as the roster starts to take shape.
For a team still sorting out several key position battles, that kind of movement matters more than a typical August flash. The Browns have not made any official decisions yet, but the early signs suggest there are real opportunities for players who keep stacking good practices and preseason snaps, and plenty of eyes will stay on how those open competitions settle in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]