News

1. Sep 20
   The Browns plan to re-evaluate their quarterback situation following Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, with Sanders being next in line to start if Cleveland elects to bench Deshaun Watson, Ian Rapoport of ESPN reports.

   After winning the battle for the starting job during the preseason, Watson will direct the offense for a second straight game to begin the regular season, but he heads into Sunday's contest with limited job security. In the Browns' season-opening 34-10 loss to the Jaguars, Watson struggled to move the ball throughout the afternoon, completing 16 of 22 attempts for 205 yards and an interception while throwing his lone touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. If Watson bounces back with a strong performance against Tampa Bay, he'll likely retain the starting job heading into the Browns' home opener Week 3 versus the Panthers, but another poor showing could set up Sanders to take over as the team's top quarterback.

   RotoWire via ESPN
2. Aug 24
   Sanders will open the season as the Browns' backup quarterback after the team named Deshaun Watson its starter Monday, multiple sources tell NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

   Sanders and Watson had been battling for the job since the start of the offseason program and alternated starts in the Browns' first two preseason tilts. Between losses to the Bears and Bills, Sanders completed 15 of 22 attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. While Watson didn't fare dramatically better than Sanders in the two exhibition games, his superior performance during camp practices in addition to his greater NFL experience and pricey contract were likely major factors in him emerging as the victor in the job battle. Watson is unlikely to head into Week 1 with a long leash, however, and Sanders should have a good chance at making starts in 2026 if the Browns limp out to a poor start to the season.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Aug 23
   Sanders will learn Monday if he or Deshaun Watson will start at quarterback for the Browns, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.

   The two signal-callers have alternated starting reps so far this preseason, as Watson started the first half of Cleveland's preseason opener while Sanders started in Saturday's 31-7 preseason loss to Buffalo. The 24-year-old Sanders outplayed Watson during the second exhibition, going 9-for-11 passing for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but neither quarterback has obviously pulled away in the competition this preseason. In any case, word on the team's Week 1 starter is on track to arrive Monday via coach Todd Monken, while both Sanders and Watson are not slated to play in Thursday's preseason finale. The Browns' regular-season opener will come versus the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 13.

   RotoWire via ESPN
4. Aug 22
   Sanders completed nine of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Saturday's 31-7 preseason loss to the Bills. He also rushed once for two yards.

   Sanders started and played the first half. After an early lightning delay, Sanders led a touchdown drive on his first possession, capping it with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Luke Floriea. Sanders also threw a red-zone interception in the second quarter. Deshaun Watson struggled in the second half, completing five of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception before ceding the final possession to Dillon Gabriel, who threw one pass. Cleveland's QB competition between Sanders and Watson remains too close to call. After the game, head coach Todd Monken said he will wait until Sunday to name a starter for Thursday's preseason finale against the Patriots, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.

   RotoWire via ESPN
5. Aug 15
   Sanders and Deshaun Watson will split first-team reps during joint practices ahead of the Browns' second preseason game against the Bills on Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sanders is set to start and play throughout the first half in that contest, Daniel Oye

   Watson drew the start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears and outperformed Sanders, the latter of whom completed 6 of 11 pass attempts for 79 yards and an interception while adding two carries for three yards in a 34-10 loss. Sanders' interception came early in the fourth quarter, when he overthrew his intended receiver. Sanders will start against Buffalo next week, and the plan is to have him play in the first half while Watson opens the third quarter and Dillon Gabriel gets work in the final period.

   RotoWire via ESPN

Injury reports

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League history

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