RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 4 sources
The Cleveland Browns quarterback competition has a winner and his name is Deshaun Watson.
Watson will start Week 1 for the Browns this season, according to head coach Todd Monken .
Four competitors entered the race – Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders , Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green . Watson and Sanders were always the leaders in the clubhouse , even if Monken declared it to be an open battle all summer long.
It marked the second consecutive season with a training camp battle for the "Dawg Pound," which was won by Joe Flacco in 2025.
Now Watson will get that honor in 2026 and can prepare accordingly for the Browns' Week 1 opener in Jacksonville against the Jaguars on Sept. 13.
Both Watson and Sanders were given the opportunity to start through the first two weeks of the preseason. Each were given the first half to audition, while the other had a chance to play the third quarter. The decision to split game reps came as the duo also alternated practice reps with the first team in practice.
Monken maintained throughout camp that he wasn't going into the battle with any preconceived notions, explaining to USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell that the competition was close ahead of the Browns' preseason opener.
"It’s close," Monken told USA TODAY Sports before a camp practice. "People somehow think that, like, I have some hidden agenda, or like there’s some preconceived notion.
"Is that what they think I would do? I would just split the reps if I didn’t think it was a competition? That would be really silly. If I thought one was the starter, I’d give him the 'one' reps."
After evaluating everything, Monken decided on who will be his top "dawg."
The rookie head coach just has to hope that the wins will follow.
Monken told reporters the decision to roll with Watson was simply due to the veteran being ahead of Sanders during the competition.
"We felt over the course of training camp and the offseason that (Watson) was ahead of Shedeur," Monken said. "Shedeur's closed that gap, for sure. And that's a credit to him. We look forward to Shedeur continuing to grow as a player, but ultimately, we're about Week 1. Putting our best foot forward over the next three weeks."
Monken also opined the construction of the Browns' schedule, which includes two road games to open the season, made Watson the better choice to get the first crack at starting for the team.
"Took in the full body of work over the course of offseason to training camp to the games to joint practice, and ultimately felt like, to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points," Monken said.
Monken further added that he is "not anticipating" the starting quarterback situation to change on a week-to-week basis.
"Ultimately we expect him to play well or we wouldn't be starting him," Monken said of Watson.
Watson was named the starter despite his comments disparaging Browns fans following the team's second preseason game.
Watson was booed throughout his outing at Huntington Bank Field, his first appearance at Cleveland's home stadium since he tore his Achilles during a game on Oct. 20, 2024. He did not take kindly to the reception he received, calling it "personal" and "disrespectful."
"I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson told reporters . "It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it's a disrespectful thing. I'm gonna keep whatever I feel with me and my family, internally, on how I feel about that and just move on."
Watson appeared to be referencing the sexual misconduct allegations that had previously been levied against him. He was the subject of 27 lawsuits dating back to March 2021, all by women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
All 27 of the lawsuits have since been dismissed or settled, and Watson has maintained his innocence.
While Watson believes the booing isn't performance-related, he has struggled since being acquired by the Browns in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans and signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. He has appeared in just 19 games across four seasons with the team, posting a 9-10 record and an 80.7 passer rating.
Still, Watson pointed toward his 2024 injury as proof the reaction surrounding him wouldn't change even if the team was winning.
"Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt," Watson said. "What does that have anything to do with performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?"
Watson then cast doubts on whether he could "defeat the negativity" he was receiving from Browns fans on social media and when asked about the topic.
"I don't know," he replied. "It's a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love at road games than I do at home games."
Monken defended Watson when asked about the quarterback's comments in a Zoom call with reporters on Sunday, Aug. 23. He also said they wouldn't have an impact on his decision about Cleveland's starting quarterback.
"None of us like to be booed. We all like to be appreciated. I think that's just human," Monken told reporters over a Zoom call. "I think he emptied his heart a little bit. I don't think that says who he is. I see the competitor in him. I see the every day work he puts in. He wants to get back to where he was as best as he can. And that's hard. I think the moment just got him after the game, and it can get all of us."
One of Watson's first orders of business as Cleveland's starting quarterback was to apologize for his comments following Saturday's preseason game .
"My ...
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.