The Cleveland Browns made the unpopular decision to roll with Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback for Week 1. Regardless of what that said about the quarterback room or who's calling the shots, it was an indictment of Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders made clear strides after his rookie season, but it still wasn't enough to beat out the veteran. Now, a third player may be officially entering the mix, as rookie Taylen Green is trending up and might be more than just a developmental player.
As reported by Andrew Siciliano, head coach Todd Monken didn't rule out making Green active for the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. He also admitted that having three active quarterbacks on the roster would be "a lot."
"Will Taylen Green see the field Week 1? Todd Monken: 'Could be. There could be a package where we have him.' So you'd dress three QB? 'If we could afford it, it would be nice to have five or six quarterbacks up. But, three's a lot,'" Siciliano wrote on X.
The Browns may already have a plan to get their dynamic rookie quarterback on the field
While this is all speculation and Monken didn't confirm anything, this certainly speaks volumes about how the Browns could utilize there quarterbacks.
The Browns' decision to split scout-team reps between Sanders and Green, seemingly to elevate Green's opportunities, might say everything there is to know about how they feel about their sixth-round rookie. Developing Green is clearly a priority, to the point where he could be made active on game days as part of a special package of offensive plays.
Of course, Monken has never wavered on his quarterback depth chart since naming Watson the starter on Aug. 24. Sanders remains the primary backup to Watson. Green operated as the team's fourth-string quarterback throughout the spring program and training camp until Dillon Gabriel was placed on short-term injured reserve on roster cutdown day.
The Browns remain unsettled at the position. They don't want Green to be just a gadget player or to switch positions. They expect him to develop as a quarterback, and the hype around him is getting pretty hard to ignore. But he needs reps, and they weren't available to him as the Browns conducted a lengthy QB competition between Watson and Sanders, while Gabriel operated as the clear No. 3 QB.
Green didn't look sharp as a passer during his lone preseason appearance, but his athleticism, size, and speed are simply mesmerizing. Monken has had nothing but positive things to say about the rookie, and there's at least a chance that fans see more of his dynamic skill set in the coming weeks.
As for Sanders, anyone calling Monken's comments on Monday a "demotion" is taking it too far. Sanders has had a strong offseason and remains the team's best chance to win games if Watson were to suffer another injury.
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