The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition reached another level on Saturday, with both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders playing in the preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The battle will continue into the second week of the preseason, with Sanders getting his chance to start when the team plays the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
The Browns have faced some criticism for not naming a starter yet, with some critics arguing that Cleveland dragging the competition out will negatively impact the team’s preparation for the season. While there’s some truth to that, the first preseason game showed why the long quarterback battle could ultimately benefit the Browns.
All signs point to Watson eventually being named the starter, and a case can be made that things were heading that direction all along. However, Watson’s outing on Saturday demonstrated that Cleveland might eventually need Sanders, so the team was smart to get him prepared as well.
The Cleveland Browns will likely start Deshaun Watson, but they still need Shedeur Sanders
Watson started the game for Cleveland against Chicago, and while there’s only so much you can take away from a preseason game, the veteran quarterback did manage to give a glimpse of the full Deshaun Watson experience.
The quarterback completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and lost a fumble on a strip sack. While Watson was pretty efficient with some quick passing, he had a few concerning moments where he got antsy in the pocket, threw a ball into the dirt when targeting an open receiver, and threw another ball into traffic.
Watson also had an injury scare after hitting his funny bone on another player, which resulted in a quick evaluation as the veteran QB flexed his hand. Everything ended up being just fine health-wise, and one might be inclined to say that his concerning on-field moments are just a result of him getting back in the groove of things.
Unfortunately, Watson’s history in Cleveland says otherwise. Since joining the Browns, Watson has often looked like an inconsistent processor and passer, and has been unable to stay healthy. While it’s optimistic to imagine that finally changing in 2026, that probably won’t be the case.
That’s why it’s a good thing that the Browns spent so much time getting Shedeur Sanders valuable reps. Whether it's Watson playing poorly or getting injured, chances are Cleveland will call on Sanders at some point during the 2026 season. If that happens, the Browns will turn to a version of Sanders that was developed throughout the offseason, and given valuable reps with the team’s top unit.
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