Todd Monken’s first preseason game as the Browns’ head coach comes with a decision that cuts straight to the heart of August football: who plays, how long they play, and how much risk he’s willing to take on Saturday against the Chicago Bears.
Cleveland opens its preseason on August 15, and the quarterback spot will be under the brightest spotlight. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders have both had their rough stretches in camp, including interceptions, and Monken called those mistakes “embarrassing” during OTAs.
For the first two weeks of training camp, he’s leaned on the word “install” to keep the process steady and reduce the pressure on himself and the quarterbacks. That work now has to show up on the field.
Still, whoever starts this week’s game is not being handed anything beyond that. The Browns are using this matchup as a test, not a coronation, and Monken still has to sort out how to split the reps.
That’s where the real challenge starts. Cleveland has a roster full of first- and second-year players who need game action, but the Browns also have a brand-new coaching staff and an entirely new offensive line.
That combination makes preseason snaps valuable, but it also makes them dangerous. It’s one thing to evaluate quarterbacks when the protection is even; it’s another to keep piling on snaps in a game that doesn’t count.
The injury situation complicates everything further. Monken has to decide whether running back Quinshon Judkins should play after coming off season-ending surgery.
Judkins missed the preseason and the first week of last season, yet still turned in a solid rookie year. The same question hangs over the new receivers, who need time in the system and could help provide a better read on the quarterbacks.
There’s also the matter of health at receiver. First-round pick KC Concepcion had a minor shoulder injury in practice last week, and the Browns recently waived Jamari Thrash with an injury designation.
Former coach Kevin Stefanski took a cautious approach to preseason games. Monken appears more willing to let healthy players go out there and compete.
That old-school mindset fits the spirit of August football, even if the games themselves are mostly about evaluation and survival. The Browns have already lived through the weirdest version of that truth, going 4-0 in the preseason and then 0-16 in the regular season.
So for Monken, Saturday is less about the final score and more about judgment. He has to decide which young players need the work, which veterans can be protected, and how much football he wants to expose his team to in a game that only matters as far as preparation goes.
In Other News...
Browns Still Have One Problem That Could Derail Todd Monken's Plan
Todd Monken arrives with a fresh mandate and a young Browns roster that has enough promise around it to make the next step feel realistic. His message has centered on accountability and execution, a clean football idea that usually sounds best when a team can trust the most important spot on the field. Cleveland has spent the offseason building around its strengths and hoping the new coaching staff can sharpen what already exists.
The problem is that the quarterback picture still hangs over everything else. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson remain the main options, and neither has locked down the job as camp approaches. The Browns also stood pat on the veteran market this offseason, betting that better weapons and better coaching will be enough to lift the position rather than chasing outside help. If that gamble doesn't pay off quickly, Monken's plan could get tested before it ever really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Camp Is Already Highlighting A Bigger Story Than QB Battle
The quarterback competition in Berea has drawn plenty of attention, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders sharing the spotlight as Browns training camp unfolds in 2026. But as camp gets rolling, the bigger picture is starting to form around everything else happening on the field and around it, from the early work on the roster to the kind of details that make August feel like its own little season.
Todd Monken has given the sessions a little extra life with his press conferences, while the kickers, the fan seating setup and the autograph lines have all become part of the daily rhythm. There is also the Puppy Pound adoption event adding some lighter texture to camp, which says plenty about how many layers there are to watch here before the Browns even get to the real questions under center. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Monkens Early Browns Impact Could Shape This Messy Camp
Todd Monken arrives in Cleveland with the kind of first-impression that can matter in a camp built around uncertainty. The 60-year-old is taking on his first NFL head coaching job after replacing Kevin Stefanski, and his early profile fits a Browns team that needs some order on offense. Hes known as a disciplinarian with an offensive-minded touch, and he already seems to be connecting well with the rosters younger players while the new-look offensive line gets sorted out.
The larger backdrop, of course, is a camp where the Browns still have plenty to settle on the offensive side, from the quarterback competition to how quickly the line can come together. Even so, the defense gives Monken something more stable to lean on, with an experienced core that has stayed intact through recent extensions for key players. For a coach trying to establish a standard early, that balance of upheaval and continuity could make these first weeks in Berea especially revealing. [Read more 🡒]