SEPTEMBER 20: While Watson will get the nod in Week 2, the Browns will evaluate their QB situation before their home opener against the Panthers in Week 3, as ESPN’s Ian Rapoport relays. If Watson plays well against the Bucs, he will remain in the starting lineup. If he performs poorly, or even at an average level, Sanders could be in line for his 2026 debut next Sunday.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (video link) likewise believes Cleveland’s Week 2 matchup with the Bucs may be Watson’s last appearance with the Browns. If it is, she predicts Watson will operate as Sanders’ backup at least until Dillon Gabriel returns from IR. But she says it is possible Cleveland does not keep Watson on the active roster and instead makes rookie Taylen Green the QB2.
In any event, Cabot expects Watson to remain on the roster in a mentor role throughout the season even if he is demoted, but she wonders if simply allowing him to leave the team might be the better option.
SEPTEMBER 14: 11:20pm: Speaking with reporters on Monday, Monken said he “anticipates” that Watson will start against the Buccaneers this week (via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN).
9:06am: Deshaun Watson and the Browns struggled mightily on Sunday. Cleveland’s Week 1 contest was a 34-10 loss to the Jaguars, and Watson’s performance left plenty of room for improvement.
The veteran completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 205 yards while throwing one interception and losing a fumble along the way. Watson added a late touchdown, but that – plus much of his yardage – came late in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. Questions about an early change atop the depth chart emerged in the aftermath of the game, and head coach Todd Monken did not confirm Watson will start in Week 2.
“I’m not getting rid of all our players,” Monken said of Watson (via Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald). “He happens to be one of 53. We’ll evaluate everything. To just say emotionally here at the end — we just didn’t play good enough. We didn’t coach well enough.”
Indeed, defensive struggles early in the game in particular played to be impactful in yesterday’s loss. Even so, Watson’s return to regular-season action after missing all of last year represented a carryover of underwhelming production from his previous Cleveland showings. The former Texans Pro Bowler has played just 20 games with Cleveland since arriving via trade in 2022 and signing a fully guaranteed $230MM contract. A personal conduct suspension followed by numerous injuries has marred a Browns tenure which has been devoid of high-end play when Watson has been available.
Prior to the start of the regular season, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wrote the 31-year-old would need to display a consistent level of performance to avoid being benched; Sunday was certainly not a strong start on that front. Many were surprised when Watson won the QB1 gig over Shedeur Sanders during training camp. Sanders’ rookie deal runs through 2028, whereas Watson is on course for a post-June 1 release next spring.
A change atop the quarterback depth chart after one game would of course be unexpected after Monken indicated the starting position would not be a week-to-week question upon giving Watson the Week 1 nod. Based on the new coach’s latest remarks, though, Watson’s grip on the first-team role will be something to monitor.
