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Shedeur Sanders (2) and Deshaun Watson were competing to be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback for Week 1. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2026 season, a league source told UPI on Monday.
Watson was competing with Shedeur Sanders for the job. They were both listed as the Browns' first-string quarterback on their first unofficial depth chart this preseason.
Watson started the Browns' preseason opener, a 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Aug. 15 in Chicago. Sanders started for the Browns in their 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in Cleveland.
Watson completed 16 of 27 (59.2%) passes for 162 yards in the Browns' first two preseason games. He threw an interception and did not log a passing score.
Sanders, 24, completed 15 of 22 (68.1%) passes for 153 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in his two preseason appearances. The fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft will now be the Browns' second-string option.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson did not throw a touchdown pass this preseason. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are the Browns' other backup quarterbacks.
Watson, 30, is entering the final year of his contract with the Browns. His initial five-year, $230 million extension was restructured multiple times over the last several off-seasons.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 in Jacksonville, Fla. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
He completed 61.2% of his throws for 3,365 yards, 19 scores and 12 interceptions over his first 19 appearances for the Browns. Watson missed the entire 2025 campaign due to an Achilles tear. He also was limited by a suspension and other injuries since he joined the Browns in 2022.
The Browns will host the New England Patriots in their preseason finale at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday in Cleveland. Coach Todd Monken said Sunday that he does not expect starters to play in that matchup.
Veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson missed significant time due to a suspension and injuries during his first four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Monken and the Browns will play the Jacksonville Jaguars in their regular season opener Sept. 13 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken listed Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as co-starters at quarterback on his first unofficial depth chart this preseason. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
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