Shedeur Sanders didn’t need much time on Saturday to make the Browns’ quarterback picture look a whole lot clearer.
After a lengthy weather delay, Sanders finally got his first preseason start and did it with the second-team offensive line in front of him, plus Denzel Boston as the only offensive starter alongside him. The supporting cast wasn’t exactly loaded, but the second-year quarterback still brought the kind of steadiness Cleveland had been missing.
It wasn’t a flashy performance. It didn’t need to be.
Sanders completed eight straight passes at one point and finished 9 of 11 for 74 yards with one touchdown, one interception and an 87.6 passer rating. For a Browns offense that has spent much of camp searching for something cleaner, sharper and more dependable, that was enough to stand out.
His best throw came on the touchdown to Luke Floriea, a pass he put right on the money. He also had a scramble that turned into a big gain before a Zak Zinter holding penalty wiped it away, and he generally looked comfortable making quick, smart decisions.
There were a couple of rough spots. Sanders didn’t do much with a two-minute drill late in the second quarter, and the interception could have been avoided even if the ball did bounce off Jermaine Terry’s hands. But with everything around him considered, it was still the strongest quarterback showing Cleveland has seen in training camp or preseason.
That stood in sharp contrast to Deshaun Watson, who came on to start the second half and was greeted by loud boos. The reaction didn’t soften after Watson opened with back-to-back three and outs.
Behind Cleveland’s third-string offensive line, he looked uneasy and finished 5 of 12 for 35 yards with a bad interception on an overthrow to Gage Larvadain. His passer rating was 14.6.
Watson’s rough stretch came after a shaky, rust-filled preseason overall, yet all signs still point to him opening the regular season as the Week 1 starter. Todd Monken probably won’t make a change just yet, even if Sanders looked like the better option against the Bills under similar circumstances.
That’s the frustrating part for Cleveland. Sanders didn’t get extended work with the starting offensive line or the team’s new playmakers, but even without that kind of help, he looked like the quarterback who gave the Browns the best chance to move the ball. After watching both guys for more than three quarters, the answer felt pretty obvious.
Shedeur Sanders is the best guy for the job.
In Other News...
Browns Quarterback Decision Just Got More Tense After Monkens Blunt Message
Todd Monken spent the weekend trying to steer the Browns back toward football, not the noise around it. After fans booed Deshaun Watson during a preseason game, the coach pointed to the simplest way to change the mood: play well as a team, let the quarterback play well, and the rest tends to follow. It was a blunt reminder that Clevelands quarterback conversation is still being judged in real time, with every snap carrying extra weight.
Monken also put a timeline on the decision, saying he plans to name the starting quarterback on Monday, with Watson and Shedeur Sanders the leading candidates. For a team still sorting out its direction under center, the timing only adds to the tension, because the competition is no longer just about who looks best in camp but who gives the Browns the cleanest path forward. Monken made clear he is focused on performance, even if the outside reaction keeps getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Calls Out How Bills Tragedy Was Made Public
Josh Allen took the podium this week carrying more than the usual training camp questions, speaking with visible sadness about the death of Bills defensive tackle Ed Olivers 2-year-old son in a drowning accident in June. The Bills had confirmed the tragedy, and Allen said the team has been trying to support Oliver and respect the familys privacy as they deal with something no parent should have to face.
Allen also made clear that the hardest part was not only the loss itself, but the way the news spread before the family was ready to announce it. He expressed frustration that social media accounts pushed the story out early, turning a private grief into public news before the official statement, and he said the organization continues to ask for space for Oliver and his family during this difficult time. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Edge Rush Suddenly Has A Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Alex Wrights injury has changed the Browns edge-rush outlook almost overnight. The young defensive end was in line to be part of Clevelands rotation after building a solid body of work across 51 games since being drafted in 2022, but an Achilles injury is expected to end his season and leaves the team searching for help on the outside.
In response, Cleveland moved quickly to add veteran Derek Barnett, who arrives with nine NFL seasons of experience and gives the Browns another body for a position group that suddenly looks thinner than expected. The signing helps stabilize the room for now, but it also underscores how much pressure is on the team to keep its pass rush intact while it waits to see how the rest of the edge group holds up. [Read more 🡒]