Overview
- Coach Todd Monken said on June 11 that he has not chosen a Week 1 starter and will alternate first‑team reps between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders when training camp opens.
- Offseason practice totals from OTAs and mandatory minicamp favored Watson with more attempts, completions and 13 touchdown throws to Sanders’s five, but those numbers came in non‑padded drills.
- Browns coaches reported clear technical gains from Sanders, noting faster progressions, improved footwork and more decisive releases that have narrowed the gap with Watson.
- Watson has not taken a meaningful snap since October 2024 and is returning from two Achilles surgeries, creating uncertainty about his ability to perform at full game speed.
- General manager Andrew Berry said the club is keeping options open for Watson beyond 2026, so the training camp and preseason evaluation will carry roster and contract implications for the franchise and its fans.