Shedeur Sanders’ hot start vs. Bills will catch Deshaun Watson’s attention amid Browns QB battle

With the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback battle ongoing between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, Saturday’s preseason game has shown an interesting facet of the competition. As Sanders started for the Browns against the Buffalo Bills in the preseason matchup, he wasted no time making his case as to why he should be under center for Week 1 on Sept. 13.

In the very first drive of the game, Sanders would lead Cleveland to a touchdown after 11 plays, which capped off with a dart from the sophomore quarterback to pass-catcher Luke Floriea. This drive could catch the attention of the veteran signal-caller in Watson, as Sanders makes his push for the starting gig.

Shedeur Sanders with the TD on his first drive, going 4 for 4. pic.twitter.com/Psyw2j6lHh

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 22, 2026

In regards to when a decision will be made about Cleveland’s starting quarterback, head coach Todd Monken said on the Browns’ pregame show on 92.3 The Fan that he does not anticipate the QB decision going past early next week.

“It appears he’ll name his QB1 by Monday or Tuesday as the Browns head into Thursday night’s dress rehearsal game against the Patriots,” NFL insider Mary Kay Cabot wrote on Saturday.

Latest report on when the Browns will choose the starting quarterback.

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that the “quarterback decision for the Browns is likely a week away,” as it has been between Watson and Sanders for the whole offseason.

“The goal for the Cleveland coaches is to take this stretch of camp and create a sort of apples-for-apples final exam on Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Saturday, with Watson getting the reps with the first team, was the first phase of that. This week’s joint practice with Buffalo will allow for Todd Monken’s staff to generate scenarios and situations for both guys and test them. And then this coming Saturday, Sanders will rep with the first team against the Bills,” Breer wrote.

At any rate, it remains to be seen when the Browns make the official decision of who will start in Week 1 on Sept. 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and if it’ll be Watson or Sanders.

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