Overview
- Todd Monken publicly defended his choice Tuesday and said fan opinion had no role in the decision to start Deshaun Watson.
- Monken told reporters he evaluated Watson mainly on recent camp and preseason work and acknowledged he has not watched Watson’s 19 starts with the Browns.
- Assistant GM Catherine Hickman said the organization made the call to maximize its chance to win games, framing the move as a football-first decision.
- Watson carries a fully guaranteed, high-value deal and a troubled Cleveland record that includes major injuries and subpar numbers across 19 starts, which increases pressure on his early play.
- Shedeur Sanders remains the fan-favorite primary backup and could get meaningful snaps quickly if Watson struggles because reports say the veteran may have only a short prove-it window and the Browns open the season on the road on Sept. 13.