RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Cleveland Browns entered Week 2 of the preseason still without a starting quarterback, with the battle for QB1 continuing between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. But according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, head coach Todd Monken could be nearing a decision soon.
Ahead of Saturday's game against the Bills, Fowler joined SportsCenter and said a decision on the Week 1 starter is expected by Monday.
"Shedeur Sanders will get the first half today. I'm told this quarterback battle is still in full swing, even though Deshaun Watson, the veteran, has had some momentum in the last few weeks," Fowler said. "What Shedeur does today is a major data point in the process. He won't have all the starters with him, but he will have a few guys with the first-team offense going at it. And I'm told this is how it's going to go: Head coach Todd Monken will get through today, he'll get with his staff on Sunday, he'll evaluate all the tape from the last few weeks, and he'll get input from his staff. I suspect by Monday they should be ready to make a decision on this quarterback battle."
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It's widely speculated that Watson may have already won the job after his performance last week against Chicago. Watson started the game and led the Browns' only two scoring drives — a 50-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt and a 14-yard rushing touchdown from rookie receiver KC Concepcion. He finished 11-of-15 for 126 yards, good for a 98.2 passer rating.
Sanders, meanwhile, entered in the second half and went 6-of-11 for 79 yards and an interception, finishing with a 39.6 passer rating.
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While Watson hasn't played a regular-season NFL snap in nearly two years after suffering two Achilles tears, he remains the proven veteran in Cleveland's quarterback room. With a new coach, a new offensive system, and a franchise desperate for consistency, he may represent the safest option under center to start the season.
Still, that doesn't mean it's over for Sanders. If Watson fails to carry his steady play into the regular season — or, worse, suffers another injury — Sanders will get another chance to prove his worth as the Browns' starter.
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