The Cleveland Browns have finally put their quarterback plan on the board for the first two preseason games, and it gives Deshaun Watson the first crack at the job.
Todd Monken said Wednesday that Watson will start Saturday against the Chicago Bears and play the first half, with Shedeur Sanders taking over in the third quarter. Next week against the Buffalo Bills, the order flips: Sanders starts, and Watson follows.
Monken had already made it clear both quarterbacks would get at least one preseason start, so this is not a full verdict on the competition. But the setup does tell you where things stand. Watson is the one getting the first look, and the early signs have him in front.
The coach said he settled on the plan early Wednesday, then waited until after practice to tell the players before making it public. That decision came on one of the offense’s cleaner days in camp, with both quarterbacks finishing the afternoon with scoring drives.
Monken also said the Browns want to see plenty of their starters in preseason action, as long as they are healthy and have no medical concerns. He pointed to pass protection as another factor in how long the quarterbacks stay on the field, and said he wants to see them in a two-minute situation.
“We’re gonna see both of them. One is gonna start this week and one will start next week. They will play about a half and I’d like to see them get a two-minute (situation), ” the coach said (h/t Zac Jackson).
Watson’s camp has been uneven, but he has clearly settled in after a rough start. He was sharper once the reps started piling up, and one of his better stretches included a 17-for-20 day with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
The concern has been the turnovers. Watson threw nine interceptions in the first 12 days of training camp, and ball security remains the biggest issue hanging over his run.
Sanders has made progress too. Reports out of camp say he has improved his footwork and gotten better about throwing the ball away instead of taking negative plays.
He has protected the ball well, though he has also dodged multiple would-be sacks and still needs to speed up his release. His cadence is another area that needs work.
The Browns may not be done sorting out the quarterback spot, but the direction is pretty clear for now. After the first two preseason games, there should be a better sense of whether Watson is truly holding the edge.
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