Browns make quarterback decision as Shedeur Sanders reveals who he’s really battling for starting role

New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has confirmed Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will both get their chance in preseason.

The two quarterbacks are locked in a battle to be named starter, and while early reports suggested the veteran had the lead, training camp appears to have changed things.

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Sanders has looked good, and $230 million Watson has struggled at times.

Monken is yet to determine a starter for Week 1, and plans to use the preseason strategically to decide who will be under center against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13.

Speaking this week, the head coach revealed that Watson and Sanders will each get one start in the first two preseason games.

The first warm up comes against the Chicago Bears on August 15 at Soldier Field, while the second will see the Browns face the Buffalo Bills on August 22 at Huntington Bank Field.

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Monken is yet to reveal which quarterback will be assigned to each game, but those showings — as well as efforts in joint practice with the Bills — will determine who will start against the New England Patriots in the final preseason game.

Cleveland hosts the defending AFC Champions, who lost Super Bowl LX, on August 27.

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe confirmed the plan as he reported from Browns camp on Tuesday.

“I just talked to Todd Monken a few minutes ago,” Wolfe revealed.

“He said this about the quarterback race: ‘I want one of these guys to make it clear to me that they’re the guy with their play.’

“This is the most important team to watch in the preseason. It’s a true quarterback competition.

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“Monken told me he’s going to start one quarterback the first game, the other will start the second. Most likely, the leader of the competition will start the third.”

Shedeur Sanders has cold response to quarterback battle question

This summer has not been unfamiliar to Sanders.

As a rookie, who arrived in Cleveland following a shock draft slide, he was involved in a competition with Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett.

While Sanders started the 2025 season on the bench, he finished as the starter.

Being in a battle for the role is something he has become accustomed to — but his eyes aren’t necessarily on Watson this summer.

On Tuesday, Underdog NFL shared a comment from Sanders, in which offered a confident response when asked whether he had ever experienced a QB competition before.

“Yeah, I have. Me vs myself,” he said.

Sanders’ cold response suggests he could be battling his own mindset, as much as Watson, this summer.

He’s also revealed a drive to ignore negativity heading into Year 2.

“I would say just understanding what really matters in this world and what doesn’t,” Sanders told ESPN’s Kevin Clark, when asked how his mindset has changed after a challenging rookie season.

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“That’s what I say really, really, really changed, to every single little thing. That’s what I cracked down on.

“It changed when the script got flipped on me… just turn on the TV, you’ll be able to see it.

“I don’t think there’s anything negative about it, but I don’t really like when people have platforms and don’t use it for the right reasons. I don’t respect that.

“So, things I don’t respect, I don’t give my time to… everything possibly negative in my life, I remove.”