Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken stated recently that in order to get a better evaluation of his quarterback room, he’ll be alternating starts over the first two preseason games between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. He likely wants to have a starter in place before the third preseason game, which often serves as a final dress rehearsal, so this plan would present a path to get to that point with a clear mind.
The two QBs have gone back and forth taking reps with the first team in training camp thus far, and while Sanders has outperformed Watson overall, Watson did have a big day on Wednesday. As it stands, fans still don’t know the specifics of how Monken will approach the preseason, but Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot recently offered her latest insight into the situation.
Cabot appeared on The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima and said it’s fairly obvious that the two QBs will split the first two starts before the presumptive Week 1 starter gets the start in the final preseason game. She believes Watson will start first and Sanders will start second before Watson eventually winds up starting again in the final preseason battle.
“I think it’s pretty evident that one of them will start in Chicago, one of them will start at home, and then the presumptive starter will start the third game against the Patriots on August 27th. It probably will go Deshaun first, and then Shedeur at home, and then maybe back to Deshaun, if it’s going the way I think it might go. I’m just trying to read the tea leaves here, and I sort of feel like that’s what we’re getting,” Cabot said.
"It probably will go Deshaun first and then Shedeur at home and then maybe back to Deshaun…if it's going the way I think it might go. I'm just trying to read the tea leaves here and I sort of feel like that's what we're getting."
🚨 @MaryKayCabot w/ @KenCarman and… https://t.co/udFQ6rPdH8 pic.twitter.com/8JPOFyaGEL
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 6, 2026
Watson looked shaky over much of the first few training camp practices, but he threw seven touchdowns with no turnovers on Wednesday and may have turned the tides back in his favor. Granted, the Browns did a lot of red zone drills, but it was an impressive day nonetheless.
Cabot’s insight is likely correct, as it has always felt like the organization wants to give Watson one more chance as a starter. If he flops, he’ll likely get benched sometime in the first month of the season, and that will be it for him in Cleveland. Monken can then move on without any regrets and give Sanders some extended time to prove whether or not he can be the long-term solution at QB.
Dillon Gabriel entering the mix would be a fun wrinkle, but he is likely fighting for backup duties or to boost his trade value. This is still between Sanders and Watson, and we’ll have to wait until the preseason to get some clarity on this whole situation.
NEXT: Day 8 Brought A Rare Change To Browns' QB Battle
