The Cleveland Browns are back in the part of the season nobody wanted to revisit: quarterback drama.
Fresh off Sunday’s loss to the two-win New Orleans Saints, head coach Todd Monken was immediately pressed on who will start this week against the Houston Texans. Monken pushed back at the timing, saying the game had just ended and it was too soon to get into that conversation.
By Monday, though, the chance to settle things had come and gone, and Monken still hadn’t made a call.
Assuming the Browns are not about to spring a surprise and turn to either Dillon Gabriel or Taylen Green against Houston, the choice appears to come down to two familiar options. One is the quarterback Monken chose to open the season, the one who somehow helped push Cleveland to a 5-3 record and into meaningful football over the final two months. The other is the backup who went 5-of-8 for 38 yards at halftime against New Orleans, then helped steady things in the second half as the receivers piled up YAC in a one-point loss.
Even that decision may not end up being the biggest issue. The defense has been worn down over the past three weeks, giving up 501 rushing yards in that stretch. And despite all the talk about “explosive plays” on Sunday, the offense still needed nearly five full quarters to put up 22 points against a Saints defense that had been surrendering 28 points per game.
At this point, the message is simple: pick someone, any one of them, and ride with that quarterback for the rest of the season. The constant back-and-forth is wearing everyone out.
Todd Monken denies report Browns already made Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson starting decision for Week 10 (Jared Mueller): What are you doing to the fans, coach?
Browns 2027 NFL draft positioning: Flip spots with Rams after Week 9 results (Jared Mueller): One way or another, it’s looking like the Browns will have a high draft pick come 2027.
Browns Week 9 loss: Shedeur’s progress, weapons galore, season in balance at trade deadline (Curtiss Brown): Yes, the conversation that no one asked for and no one wanted.
Browns vs. Texans odds: Opening lines for Week 10 matchup (Chris Pokorny): Welcome back home, Browns.
Your reward? The Houston Texans, who have won three of their past four games.
Browns draft picks: Rams dealt another major injury; will it halt LA’s momentum? (Jared Mueller): The Rams might actually be cursed.
Todd Monken won’t name Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders as Browns QB (Beacon Journal): Browns fans have pretty much embraced Todd Monken. Why does he now want to hurt them?
Todd Monken declines to say if Shedeur Sanders earned another start, but Deshaun Watson still has 5 4th-quarter game-winning drives (cleveland.com): Are there really any winners in all this?
Sanders or Watson: What should the Browns do? (Terry Pluto): Just pick one and get on with it.
Is the NFC North the best division ever? Sizing up wins for Packers, Lions, Bears (ESPN): It is certainly not the NFC South.
In Other News...
Browns Have A New Reason To Watch The Rams Closely
The Browns quarterback situation is already complicated enough after Deshaun Watsons concussion, but there is another reason the front office has had to keep one eye on the West Coast. Cleveland is tied for the AFCs last playoff seed after nine weeks, and with the offense in flux, every bit of future draft capital matters a little more than it did a month ago.
Los Angeles has been dealing with a wave of injuries, including a setback for Puka Nacua, and that could push the Rams toward adding help at receiver before the trade deadline. Cleveland has a particular interest in how aggressive they get, because the Rams currently hold the 18th overall pick in the 2027 draft, a selection that is slated to land with the Browns. If Los Angeles starts chasing reinforcements, the ripple effects could reach far beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Defense Flashed Again But One Late Problem Wont Go Away
The Browns defense kept doing what it has done all season, showing up with a disruptive front and enough depth to survive another game without Maliek Collins. Cleveland leaned on a rotation that included Myles Garrett, Cameron Thomas, and a busy group of linebackers and defensive backs, and the snap counts reflected a unit that had to keep grinding through the afternoon against the Saints.
What stood out again, though, was the same late-game issue that has followed this defense at times: the closing stretch still gets messy. Even with individual production up front and solid work from the cornerbacks, the Browns could not fully put the final stamp on the game the way they would have liked, leaving one familiar problem hanging over an otherwise encouraging defensive performance. [Read more 🡒]
Browns QB Uncertainty Is Suddenly Fueling A New Shedeur Sanders Debate
Todd Monken has left the Browns in a familiar but uncomfortable spot heading into Week 10, with no confirmation yet on whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders will get the start at quarterback. Cleveland is carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster, which has only added to the sense that the position room is crowded and the next move could matter well beyond one game.
The uncertainty has also stirred up new debate around Sanders, whose role now sits at the center of a larger roster conversation. With the NFL trade deadline in play and speculation building about possible quarterback movement, the Browns have not announced any decisions or trades, leaving the situation open and the questions very much alive. [Read more 🡒]