Shedeur Sanders is heading into Year 2 with a clearer lane than he had when his rookie season wound down.
Cleveland has spent the offseason untangling its quarterback situation, and with Week 1 almost here, the Browns have settled on the first piece of the puzzle. According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Deshaun Watson has been named the Week 1 starter and team captain, while Sanders will open the season as the primary backup.
That’s a meaningful spot for Sanders, even after a rookie year that had its rough stretches. He appeared in eight games and came away with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also completed 56.6% of his throws, posted a 68.1 passer rating and was sacked 23 times.
But Sanders isn’t the only young quarterback in the mix.
Rookie sixth-round pick Taylen Green has made an impression on the coaching staff with his athleticism, and offensive coordinator Todd Monken recently said Cleveland is weighing a package of plays for the 6-foot-6 quarterback. That has naturally led to questions about whether Sanders could be inactive on game day while Green is used in select situations.
For now, though, Sanders stays in the backup role behind Watson.
That matters as Cleveland gets ready for Sunday’s opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Both teams are starting from 0-0, and the Browns will want Sanders available if Watson can’t finish the game. At the same time, Green’s mobility gives Cleveland another option it can deploy to stress Jacksonville’s defense.
So Sanders’ job is straightforward at the moment: prove he can hold down the No. 2 spot before Green’s role grows any larger.
His second NFL season is already off to a more defined start than the first. Now comes the harder part.
In Other News...
Jaguars Fans Heading To The Opener Need To Know This First
The Jaguars 2026 home opener against the Browns comes with a little more planning than usual, thanks to the ongoing renovations at EverBank Stadium. With seating capacity reduced, the team has put out detailed guidance on parking, traffic flow and which entry gates fans should use, a reminder that getting in and getting settled may take a bit more patience than it has in past Septembers.
The opener also doubles as the clubs 9/11 Remembrance game, so there will be added ceremony before kickoff. Along with the memorial observance, the Jaguars are planning a naturalization oath ceremony and recognition of military veterans, making it one of those early-season dates where the football, the pageantry and the logistics all come together at once. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have A Week 1 Weapon Jaguars Cant Ignore
Clevelands quarterback picture remains one of the more intriguing parts of the Browns outlook, and it is part of what makes their Week 1 matchup with the Jaguars so tricky to handicap. Chris Pokorny pointed to the uncertainty under center, the defensive talent still on the roster, and the way first-time head coach Todd Monken could shape the offense as the Browns try to settle into a new identity heading into 2026.
For Jacksonville, the challenge is less about a single headline and more about the collective stress the Browns can put on a season opener. The trade of Myles Garrett changed the look of Clevelands defense, but the Browns still have enough pieces to make life difficult, and the quarterback conversation around Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders only adds another layer of unpredictability. When a team is still sorting out who it wants to be, it can be dangerous right away. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Are Still Betting On Deshaun Watson Against The Jaguars
Deshaun Watson is set to open the season as Clevelands starter, and the Browns are carrying that decision into a tough early stretch that includes the Jaguars in Week 1. Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer said Watson will be under center when the Browns line up against Jacksonville, while also noting the expectation that the quarterback will settle in more comfortably as the offense unfolds.
For Jacksonville, it adds another layer to a season opener that already had plenty of weight. The Browns are leaning on Watsons experience even with the injury concerns that have followed him, and they are planning to keep him in place for the next two games as well, including a matchup with Tampa Bay. It leaves the Jaguars preparing for a familiar name with a less familiar level of certainty around him. [Read more 🡒]