Summary:
- Deshaun Watson will start Saturday against the Chicago Bears in his first game since his 2024 injury.
- Shedeur Sanders will start a week later against the Buffalo Bills as Cleveland continues its quarterback competition.
- Watson and Sanders have been sharing first-team practice reps.
Deshaun Watson will get the first opportunity to make his case in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition when he starts the team’s NFL preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on Saturday.
Browns coach Todd Monken informed Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders of the plan following Wednesday’s practice. Watson will start against Chicago, while Sanders is scheduled to take the first-team role in Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 22.
The decision comes as the two quarterbacks have been alternating first-team reps throughout training camp. Monken said he expects the starting quarterback to play approximately one half, with the other quarterback taking over in the third quarter.
Saturday’s game will be particularly significant for Deshaun Watson, who is preparing to play his first game since suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in October 2024.
Watson underwent a second surgery on the injury in January 2025 and subsequently missed the entire 2025 season. His extended absence means the preseason opener will provide an important first opportunity to evaluate how he performs in a live-game environment.
shootin' straight 🎯@deshaunwatson | @g1baller pic.twitter.com/OUaM1U1Bxc
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 12, 2026
Watson only played 19 games since joining Cleveland in March 2022 because of a long string of suspensions and injuries.
His performance during that period has also been limited, with a 33.1 Total QBR that would rank last among qualifying quarterbacks if he had enough starts to meet the qualification threshold.
Still, Watson said Wednesday that he is excited about the opportunity after months of preparation.
“I’m super excited“, Watson said, describing the work he has put in with Cleveland’s training staff and his personal team.
Sanders, meanwhile, will have to wait until the following week for his preseason start. The Browns selected him with the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, and he started the final seven games of his rookie football season.
The quarterback went 3-4 in those starts, throwing seven touchdown passes against 10 interceptions and adding one rushing touchdown. His 18.9 QBR ranked among the lowest marks recorded by quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts in the QBR era.
Despite those numbers, Cleveland’s coaching staff has praised Sanders’ progress, particularly his development before and after the snap.
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