Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Downplays Competing Against Deshaun Watson

For those living under a rock for the past five years, the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation is a mess.

Key points

• But Watson additionally received a five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract after the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans in March 2022.
• When he tore his Achilles, watson, meanwhile, has not played an NFL regular-season down since October 2024.
• The Browns have narrowed it down to Sanders and Deshaun Watson.
• "I'll say every day of my life's important, " Sanders remarked, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.

For those living under a rock for the past five years, the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation is a mess. The beleaguered NFL franchise took two quarterbacks, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, in last year's draft, and there's still a fat question mark at the position entering the 2026 season. The Browns have narrowed it down to Sanders and Deshaun Watson. This person began Cleveland's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears last weekend. Sanders will start Week 2 of the preseason against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. At least externally, he's not fazed by the pressure of winning the starting job. "I'll say every day of my life's important, " Sanders remarked, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "Every day's significant. I want to say it's a day that's not significant. So that's just another day going out there doing what I obtained to do, honestly. Since that's how I approach everything, I don't really feel anxiety or any pressure going into things like that anymore. So, it's just another day of going to work. That's all it is for me." Theoretically, Sanders should have the upper hand, even if he wasn't an instant success in his starts as a rookie down the stretch last season. He posted 1, 400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on 56.6% completion – producing flash plays and stinker plays in equal measure. But Sanders is 24 years old, a former college star, with the upside of not being a finished NFL product. When he tore his Achilles, watson, meanwhile, has not played an NFL regular-season down since October 2024. He tore his Achilles again in January 2025. For context, the 30-year-old former star only began 19 games for the Browns throughout 2022 and 2024, and he played mostly uninspired football. But Watson additionally received a five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract after the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans in March 2022. Funds negotiations, and it might force newly hired head coach Todd Monken to start the season with Watson.

Newsweek is a Trust Project member.

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

For context, the beleaguered NFL franchise took two quarterbacks, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, in last year's draft, and there's still a fat question mark at the position entering the 2026 season.

For context, the Browns have narrowed it down to Sanders and Deshaun Watson. This person began Cleveland's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears last weekend. Sanders will start Week 2 of the preseason against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

At least externally, he's not fazed by the pressure of winning the starting job.

"I'll say every day of my life's important, " Sanders remarked, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "Every day's significant. I want to say it's a day that's not significant. So that's just another day going out there doing what I obtained to do, honestly. Since that's how I approach everything, I don't really feel anxiety or any pressure going into things like that anymore. So, it's just another day of going to work. That's all it is for me."

Theoretically, Sanders should have the upper hand, even if he wasn't an instant success in his starts as a rookie down the stretch last season. He posted 1, 400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on 56.6% completion – producing flash plays and stinker plays in equal measure. But Sanders is 24 years old, a former college star, with the upside of not being a finished NFL product.

When he tore his Achilles, watson, meanwhile, has not played an NFL regular-season down since October 2024. He tore his Achilles again in January 2025. The 30-year-old former star only began 19 games for the Browns throughout 2022 and 2024, and he played mostly uninspired football.

But Watson additionally received a five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract after the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans in March 2022. Funds negotiations, and it might force newly hired head coach Todd Monken to start the season with Watson.

In short, browns QB Shedeur Sanders Downplays Competing Against Deshaun Watson is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.