RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Shedeur Sanders was down to his final shot to stake a claim to the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job. It started very well. Then there was an interception.
Browns coach Todd Monken said before Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills that he plans to name a quarterback for the regular season early next week, via Cleveland.com . Sanders has been behind Deshaun Watson for most of the offseason and training camp and didn’t start Cleveland’s first preseason game. Sanders got the start on Saturday, and if Monken sticks with his timeline it was Sanders’ last chance to make an impression.
Sanders came out hot, completing his first eight passes including a touchdown. He was driving the Browns again late in the first half, and after a nice 23-yard pass on third-and-15 he made a crucial mistake. Sanders threw behind tight end Jermaine Terry. The ball bounced up and Bills safety Damar Hamlin picked it off. Terry could have made a great catch, but it should have been a routine pass to an open tight end and Sanders missed the target.
If the Browns have been leaning toward Watson, as it has seemed, that interception will give them the reason they need to name him the starter over Sanders.
There hadn't been many signs that Sanders is close to overtaking Watson in the competition to start in Week 1. Watson got the start last week and although he didn't play great, Monken said he thought Watson functioned at a "high level."
Last week, Watson outplayed Sanders. He went 11 of 15 for 126 yards. Sanders was 6 of 11 for 79 yards and an interception. However, Sanders was playing with backups. Saturday might have offered a more fair assessment of his play, but other than rookie second-round receiver Denzel Boston, Sanders didn’t play with the Browns’ starters. For those who believe that Sanders hasn’t gotten a truly fair shot from the organization, that is another point in their favor.
All Sanders could do was take advantage of the opportunity to start on Saturday, with time running out in the competition. And he had to wait a while.
Shedeur Sanders before his preseason start against the Bills. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Nick Cammett via Getty Images
Saturday’s game was delayed due to lightning after four offensive plays with 13:11 left into the first quarter, during the Bills' first series. A game that kicked off at 1 p.m. Eastern resumed at 2:15 p.m. Then the Bills finished a nine-play touchdown drive, making Sanders wait even longer.
On Cleveland’s first drive, Sanders handed off three times and the Browns went for it on fourth down. He stood in the pocket with good protection and kept his eyes moving downfield until he found tight end Blake Whiteheart for 16 yards. That got Sanders going, as he hit a couple more passes including an 8-yard touchdown to wide open Luke Floriea in the back of the end zone. He was 4 for 4 for 43 yards on the drive.
the second year connection for the TD! #BUFvsCLE on News 5 pic.twitter.com/BntGdJpIAM
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 22, 2026
The second drive didn’t go as well. Sanders couldn’t find anyone downfield and ran for 1 yard, at least avoiding a sack and lost yardage. Then on third-and-7 he was a little too conservative and threw a pass to the flat to Raheim Sanders, who got only 2 yards. But he was back on the third drive, with a 13-yard scramble on third down that was called back due to a holding penalty, then a 23-yard pass on third-and-15 to keep the drive going. He was still a perfect 8 for 8 for 80 yards at that point, but then he threw the interception to Hamlin.
. @JoeAndreessen 🤝 @HamlinIsland Tune into CBS pic.twitter.com/NNu4R6EqAJ
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 22, 2026
After that the Browns couldn’t move the ball in the final two minutes of the half and punted.
Sanders had some good moments in the first half, but also one big mistake. Now Sanders waits, and probably not long, to hear who will start at quarterback in Week 1.
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