Deshaun Watson saw his first on-field NFL action since Oct. 20, 2024, when the Cleveland Browns traveled to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason.
Browns coach Todd Monken came away from his team's 34-10 loss impressed by what he had seen from the 30-year-old quarterback.
"It was awesome," Monken said when asked about Watson's performance during his postgame news conference. "It was so cool to watch him play. I mean, I get all of the frustration by fans, himself but for him to come back and work like he did is an unbelievable credit to him."
"He was having fun today, and that is so cool," Monken added. "And I thought he functioned at a high level. Certainly, we don't wanna be taking timeouts. We sure as heck can't take delay of games, but it was fun watching him play and watching us put the next step forward and see where we're at."

#monken #field #soldier

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson made his first appearance in any kind of game since tearing his Achilles during the 2024 season when he started Saturday's game against the Bears.
Watson played the entire first half and went 11-of-15 for 126 yards and the Browns scored 10 points while he was in the game. Watson also ran three times, including a sneak, but lost a fumble and the offense had a delay of game as well as a timeout with the clock running down.
After the game, head coach Todd Monken acknowledged at a press conference that "there's a lot to clean up" including two other turnovers but had a mostly positive reaction to Watson's return to the lineup.
"It was awesome," Monken said. "It was so cool to watch him play. I get all of the frustration — fans, himself. But for him to come back and work as he did is an unbelievable credit to him. And then to go out there — h was having fun today and that is so cool. I thought he really functioned at a high level. We don't want to be taking timeouts, we sure as heck can't take delay of games. But it was fun watching him play and watching us put the next step forward and see where we are at."
Shedeur Sanders accounted for one of the other turnovers with an interception, but Monken said the plan to start him in the team's next preseason game remains in place. A decision on Week 1 could come at that point and Watson got his best chance to make his case on Saturday.

#game

The NFL preseason is in full swing as teams take the field for their first live snaps in months. Coaches are getting valuable information on their players and how they perform in certain situations.
The Cleveland Browns are in yet another era of change. They have a brand-new head coach, a shuffled roster and, of course, a new coaching staff. However, the quarterback room has remained largely unchanged since last season.
Deshaun Watson, who came to the team in a trade during the 2022 offseason, has remained on the roster as he enters the final season of his contract. Despite his underwhelming tenure, head coach Todd Monken is giving him a clean slate.
MORE: Jaxson Dart's brutal hit should make Giants rethink preseason risk
Watson got the start in the Browns' first preseason game and had a mixed bag of results. However, his performance was overall successful for his first game action in two years.

#preseason #roster #season

In competition with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson started the first preseason game for the Browns on Saturday against the Bears and played the entire first half.
The results were middling.
Watson ended his two-quarter outing 11-of-15 passing for 126 yards. The Browns scored a field goal and a touchdown with him in. But Watson was not particularly impressive, at times looking uncomfortable in the pocket and firing inaccurate passes. He was also strip-sacked on a fourth-and-2 from the Chicago 40 as the Browns were trying to extend a drive early in the second quarter.
Most of Watson's yardage came on a 43-yard screen pass to Dylan Sampson late in the first period. He attempted just one pass over 10 yards in the air.
Head coach Todd Monken mentioned to reporters during the week that the Browns would do everything they could to get a two-minute drill, and they had that opportunity when rookie corner Michael Coats picked off Tyson Bagent late in the second quarter. But Cleveland did nothing with it, as Watson threw a pair of incompletions on second and third down on the ensuing possession.

#watson #late #sanders

The Cleveland Browns are one of the few NFL teams that still haven't decided on a starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL season.
Cleveland's quarterback battle will kick into high gear on Saturday, Aug. 15, when the Browns face off against the Chicago Bears in their first game of the 2026 preseason.
For Saturday's game, first-year coach Todd Monken has designated 10-year veteran Deshaun Watson as the team's starter. Watson is expected to play the first half before making way for his counterpart, Shedeur Sanders, at the start of the third quarter.
Monken has yet to tip his hand about who is winning the tight quarterback battle, but Saturday's action should give fans an idea of just how close the competition is.
Cleveland's quarterbacks won't be the only players worth watching on Saturday. Rookie receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston are expected to be on the field for the first time in their careers, while Cleveland's new-look offensive line, which features four new starters, will be given an early chance to jell.

#Browns #saturday #battle #year

CHICAGO ― The preseason is officially here for the Cleveland Browns. The mysteries it may help solve remain unknown.
What's known is Deshaun Watson will start at quarterback for the Browns as they open the preseason at the Chicago Bears. From there, the exactly length of time he'll play is a mystery, even though coach Todd Monken said it would be the first half.
Shedeur Sanders will come in to replace Watson in this game. That's tentatively expected to be the third quarter, but one must wait and see.
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And how does Monken handle his first preseason game as an NFL head coach? He's never had those duties before.

#coach #deshaun

The Browns are taking a look at some veteran help on defense.
Tyus Bowser worked out for Cleveland on Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Bowser, 31, last played for Miami in 2024. He appeared in seven games with four starts for the club that season after appearing in two for Seattle while on the club's practice squad.
Browns head coach Todd Monken has familiarity with Bowser, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Ravens. Monken served as Baltimore's offensive coordinator from 2023-2025.
In his 98 career games with 28 starts, Bowser has registered 19.5 sacks with 22 tackles for loss and 48 quarterback hits.

#seven

Day 12 of Cleveland Browns training camp took place Tuesday, August 11. The quarterback battle continued on, with everyone looking more comfortable as practices go on.
1. I Guess There Was Never Much Doubt: One of the biggest positions of debate heading into training camp was the offensive line, specifically from center to right tackle. However, it hasn't ended up being much to debate. Elgton Jenkins has been exclusively at center, and Tytus Howard has stuck to right tackle. Today, head coach Todd Monken indicated that right guard is the only spot still in competition, and that the veteran Teven Jenkins has the upper hand.
2. As for the Backups: One depth chart change caught the eye of the media today: Austin Barber was at left tackle on the second unit, while Dawand Jones was at right tackle.
3. Drill of the Day: Here is a fun drill where the defensive line pass rushes around the edge, but then works back toward a screen to try to dislodge it.
4. Early Interception: QB Deshaun Watson was first up as the quarterback today, and early on, he overthrew a pass that was picked off by CB Tyron Herring.

#quarterback

The Cleveland Browns' training camp took an unexpected turn Monday when head coach Todd Monken ended practice early after a frustrating sequence of mistakes during the team's final two minute drill.
The Browns were working on a late game situation when the offense struggled to execute. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both received opportunities, but neither group was able to finish the drill cleanly. Sanders' drive included multiple pre snap penalties, while Watson's possession also featured mistakes, including a sack, an illegal formation and another false start.
The mistakes appeared to push Monken over the edge. The first year Browns head coach has emphasized discipline and avoiding emotional mistakes throughout training camp, but Monday's practice ended with visible frustration. Monken later acknowledged that he became "emotionally hijacked" by the way the session finished.
Ending practice early sent a clear message to the team. With the regular season approaching, the Browns cannot afford repeated penalties and communication issues, particularly on an offense that is still adjusting to a number of new pieces. Cleveland's offensive line is undergoing significant changes, making consistency especially important during camp.
The quarterback competition between Sanders and Watson also adds another layer of attention to every practice. Watson has received more first-team opportunities, while Sanders continues to compete for the starting job. Monken has said the competition will continue, with each quarterback expected to start one of the Browns' first two preseason games before the team makes its decision for Week 1.

#monken #sanders #camp #training

From legends who've become institutions to up-and-coming superstars with the world there for the taking, these are the 15 coaches who are among the very best, but slightly below the current elite.

All of them have won big things, but each is missing something. Can he win the really big games? Where's the national **** le? How long before all the great things turn into something special at a whole other level?

They're all fantastic, and they're all in the top 25 in our 2026 ranking of the best head coaches in college football going into the season.
Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley (right) talks with quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
2025 Coach Rank: 10
FBS Record: 89-63 | FBS Win %: 58.6%
No one seems to grasp that it's way harder than it seems to consistently win at Army. 12 seasons in, Monken continues to produce.
- Army 2026 Team Preview
- CFN Preseason Top 10 Head Coaches
2025 Coach Rank: 24
FBS Record: 213-128 | FBS Win %: 62.5%
The head man at Iowa since 1999 - Troy Calhoun (Air Force) and Dabo Swinney (2009) are the only other coaches to be around since before 2013 - he's an institution with over 100 more FBS wins than all but 11 other current head coaches.
- Iowa 2026 Team Preview

#coaches #california #imagn

BEREA, Ohio – Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson?
Wait on it. Barring some unforeseen circumstance, this won't be the week that new Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken settles on his starting quarterback.
The Browns open the preseason on Saturday at Chicago, and somebody has to start. The next week, the other quarterback is pegged to get a turn. From there, let's see what gives.
Those are the ingredients for what's become so rare in the NFL: a legitimate training camp quarterback competition.
That Monken has been alternating the days for Sanders and Watson to work with the first-team unit throughout camp provides quite the barometer.

#berea

As has been stated repeatedly throughout the offseason, the Baltimore Ravens are navigating unfamiliar territory. A franchise known for stability has undergone significant change in a relatively short period of time. Coordinators have departed. Jesse Minter became only the fourth head coach in franchise history.
New voices have been added throughout the building and on the roster, with veteran Calais Campbell among the most significant of the latter. He's certainly a great veteran pickup for a young defense with stars or stars in the making at every level. Much of the focus has naturally centered on how all of those changes are being received by the players expected to lead Baltimore's next chapter.
When Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton or Zay Flowers speak, people listen. Their opinions often become headlines because of their stature within the organization. Recently, however, one of the most telling endorsements came from a quieter voice. Running back Justice Hill may not command the same spotlight as some of Baltimore's biggest stars, but his perspective on new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is worth noting.
Recently, he spoke with media members after a practice and complimented new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, calling him "the most detail-oriented" offensive coordinator that he's worked with.
At first glance, the comment might sound like routine training camp praise. The context makes it far more interesting. Hill isn't comparing Doyle to an unknown list of ****** istants. During his seven seasons in Baltimore, he has played for Greg Roman and Todd Monken. Those are pretty detailed offensive minds in their own right.

#stars #declan

BEREA ― The media was told by coach Todd Monken at 12:50 p.m. that Shdeur Sanders was going to be getting the No. 1 quarterback reps in practice. The practice started 40 minutes later, and by 2 p.m. it was clear the No. 1 reps were all going to belong to Deshaun Watson.
So, what exactly happened? It's believed that the former was going to be the plan, until the Browns completed walk-through around noon and something changed.
A team spokesman's statement simply said that "there were personnel grouping (Monken) wanted to see Deshaun with." That's the only official statement from the Browns on the subject. at least until Monken speaks before the next training camp practice on Aug. 10.
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All of which leads to another thing Monken talked about before practice, which is the preseason opener next Saturday. Specifically, the fact the next practice will be the one where there's a moere obvious delination between those who have a chance to play with the No. 1s and who is likely to be further down the depth charft.

#going

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has spent the first 10 days of training camp putting the offense through its paces as he ponders what to do with an uninspiring quarterback room.
Monken has the unenviable task of choosing between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to start the August 15 preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
It is not a make-or-break decision by any means; Monken has said that he expects to give both Watson and Sanders a start in the preseason. And depending on which day of the week it is, and which quarterback fans are predisposed to prefer, either Watson has flexed his veteran presence to firmly grasp the QB1 role, or Sanders has shown enough improvement and grasp of the offense to be the obvious choice.
Thankfully, at least as it pertains to the game against the Bears, we all may know soon enough which quarterback will be in the huddle for the first offensive series of the preseason, as Monken and the staff will spend the next few days reviewing the candidates and then make the decision public (quotes via The Beacon Journal):
"That's something we'll talk about tomorrow. I think tonight, tomorrow, and then Monday, we'll start to really focus in on who's going to start, how we're going to play our guys, and where we're at a quarterback's a piece of that.

#start #first #days #offense

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Recap: Day 9 – No closer to a QB decision (Chris Pokorny) – "Day 9 of Cleveland Browns training camp took place Friday, August 7. Unfortunately, they closed practice to the fans, due to the threat of rain."
Browns fans are ready to include a third QB in the competition (Chris Pokorny) – "The Cleveland Browns are two weeks into training camp, and installation periods are finished. Head coach Todd Monken has maintained all along that he will likely name a starter between QB Deshaun Watson and QB Shedeur Sanders later in training camp, after both players have been evaluated through rotating days of reps."
Browns roster: Team adds another free agent DT following Friday practice (Jared Mueller) – "On Friday, just before practice started, the Cleveland Browns announced a number of changes to their roster due to injuries."
Browns HC Todd Monken talks talent versus fit with OLine decision, starters in question (Jared Mueller) – "The entire focus from the outside looking in with the Cleveland Browns has been about the quarterback position. At practice on Friday, HC Todd Monken reiterated that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson have not separated from each other, despite a noted difference in some snaps on Thursday."
Browns QB competition: 'Signal' that 'QB1' has unofficially been identified (Jared Mueller) – "At this point in time, the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition is up in the air until HC Todd Monken says it isn't. Deshaun Watson may have come in with a leg up, but Shedeur Sanders has reportedly made strides. Neither has seemed to distance themselves in the competition so far, almost two weeks into training, with Monken noting that finishing installs was a priority in the process."

#todd #practice

For a decade, Hall of Famer Joe Thomas anchored the Browns' offensive line at left tackle.
With training camp ongoing, Thomas has been at the facility this week to ***** ist with coaching the rebuilt group at the behest of head coach Todd Monken.
Monken revealed to reporters after Thursday's practice that he offered Thomas a full-time job after he was hired in January.
"Well, when I was interviewing for the job and then when I got the job, I reached out to Joe," Monken said in his press conference. "Joe, obviously, played for [offensive line coach] George Warhop as well. And I said, hey, we've got a spot for you if you want to help us coach. And he said, 'I'd love to coach.' He said, 'I don't think I want to commit to an everyday contract.' I said, 'That's fine. Anytime you want to come out and help our guys, you're more than welcome.' And we certainly would welcome him."
With the Browns bringing in offensive tackle Spencer Fano with the No. 9 overall pick of this year's draft, Thomas likely had some useful pointers for the rookie to excel as he begins his first season.

#well #Help

BEREA ― Jared Verse had spent the better part of nearly two hours making life miserable for Browns rookie left tackle Spencer Fano during training camp practice. The 15 or 20 minutes after practice, the Pro Bowl defensive end was going to do his part to help his teammate.
So there on the hot practice field, as others headed toward the cool of the locker room, was Verse working one-on-one with Fano. With each move he showed the young tackle, he explained some of the secrets to counter what he was doing.
"That's really cool," Browns coach Todd Monken said the next day. "I walked up to Jared and said, 'man, we're so lucky you're a Brown. I mean holy s*** how cool is this?' Because he's not only a great leader, but he also works his rear end off every day, and after practice he's trying to get Spencer better. I stood right behind him listening to what he was talking about, and it was bang, bang, bang, five reps in a row of his footwork, then talking through what he was going to do, how he could redirect, how he could use his hands and punch. It was within five reps I saw Spencer get better."
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That hasn't been the first time Fano has gotten pointers from Verse. It's just one of the most recent examples.

#cool

There's little doubt that defensive end Myles Garrett will be missed on the field with the Cleveland Browns.
There's reason to believe that his replacement, defensive end Jared Verse, the lynchpin of the trade that sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams along with an ******* ortment of draft picks, will be a more than suitable replacement.
A league-wide poll of players ranked Verse, who is already getting praised for his leadership in training camp, as the 35th best player in the league Wednesday, Aug. 5, after coming in at No. 53 last year. Garrett ranked No. 8 last year and will surely move higher after winning his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for setting the single season sack record in 2025.
"His tape speaks for itself. I mean, being a Defensive Rookie of the Year and then a Pro Bowler," Browns coach Todd Monken said during minicamp "How many guys have done that? It's a pretty elite group he's in.
Verse has certainly embraced his return to Ohio, the state where he grew up and the trade that brought him to the Browns with realistic attitude.

#Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is one of the most anticipated players heading into the 2026 NFL season, as he has not played in over a year. The 30-year-old missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign due to a torn Achilles. In fact, in the four years he has spent with the Browns so far, he has played in just 19 games. Nevertheless, Watson is gearing up for a momentous return later this year. What makes Watson's return different this time around is that newly-minted coach Todd Monken's Browns now have incoming second-year standout Shedeur Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders. This means the two quarterbacks will have to compete for the QB1 spot. In a recent report by Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Watson had his best day of training camp thus far.
"#Browns Deshaun Watson had his best day of camp by far, with nice passes to KC Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston and more. He played with confidence and was more accurate than on any other day. It helps to have the full complement in weapons in team."
— Mary Kay Cabot (MaryKayCabot) August 5, 2026
NFL fans and spectators are not overreacting to Watson's reportedly great performance.
"No pads, no pressure. I'm not knocking his performance, but he always looks great in shorts with no pressure. Half our d is not even on field. Full pads will be more impressive," one fan said.

#sanders #cabot #full

Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson have both been on the job for roughly a week now, getting to see how first-year head coach Todd Monken runs training camp. Both are competing to become the next starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, and oddly enough, they've both already done the job before.
Yet, this time, as Monken has stressed since the moment he accepted the job, it's a clean slate. While Sanders and Watson came to learn what Kevin Stefanski was looking for, what will set the competition apart in Monken's mind?
Just in case there's still any doubt left in their minds, Browns general manager Andrew Berry just laid the foundation for what the respective QBs need to do to win the starting job.
Appearing on ESPN's "This is Football" with Kevin Clark, Berry revealed what he's looking for from his quarterbacks.
"I think the big thing is, operating and decision-making," Berry said. "You think about quarterback, right, the ball's gonna be in that player's hand, whether they throw it, run it, hand it off, you know, call it 60 times a game, so there's a set of at least 60 decisions that player's going to make.

#starting

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been the invisible man in the early days of training camp as the third man in a depressing two-man quarterback competition.
Some of that is to be expected given that veteran Deshaun Watson is healthy enough to participate after missing all of last year with a twice-torn Achilles tendon. And Gabriel did not exactly light up the NFL in his six starts as a rookie, completing just 59.5 percent of his passes and seeing the Browns win just one of his starts.
Gabriel was statistically better than fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders in just about every metric that matters, however, so one could begrudge him for feeling a bit left out with the spotlight shining so brightly on Watson and Sanders.
But Gabriel does not seem wired that way, at least outwardly, as on Wednesday he said he never felt "disrespected" and that he understands the NFL is a business.
He also spoke confidently about being able to pick up what head coach Todd Monken wants from the offense given the similarities to what Gabriel ran in college (quote via a team-provided transcript):

#starts

Shedeur Sanders is fighting for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback position in training camp.
The Browns selected Sanders with the 144th pick in last year's NFL Draft after many expected him to be selected in the first round.
After starting the season as the third-string QB behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel, Sanders started the final seven games.
However, head coach Todd Monken has not named his starting quarterback for the 2026 season during training camp.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

#camp #selected

Browns coach Todd Monken originally hoped to name a starting quarterback by the offseason program. That didn't happen, with the competition continuing into training camp.
Monken finally has revealed his timeline for a decision.
He told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will each start a preseason game. The next week will determine who starts Aug. 15 at Chicago and who starts the Aug. 22 home game against the Bills.
The leader likely starts the final preseason game on Aug. 27 against the Patriots.
Watson has played only 19 games since arriving in Cleveland in 2022. He hasn't played since October of 2024, twice tearing his Achilles since.

#monken

We have made it to Week 2 of Cleveland Browns training camp with no end in sight for the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Some are starting to wonder, including a report from the team's "locker room," if Dillon Gabriel will insert himself into the competition, or already has in fact.
GM Andrew Berry and HC Todd Monken have made it clear that production is their highest priority in making the decision, but what is best for the Browns long-term should also play a role.
Cleveland's defense continues to look good, despite the loss of Myles Garrett, through the first week of training camp, and now we get to see the team in pads for the first time.
Week 2's currently planned training camp schedule:
12:00 pm Select players available

#week #camp #cleveland #deshaun

The offseason is officially over. As of now, all 32 teams have reported for training camp. The Cleveland Browns started their 2026 campaign last week when the team practiced for the first time under 1st-year head coach Todd Monken. This offseason, the team underwent multiple changes, but the one that everyone will pay close attention to is the quarterback situation. Deshaun Watson will try to salvage his football career, while Shedeur Sanders will try to prove he can be a long-term starter in the NFL, while Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are also on the depth chart.
The last time Watson played, the tape he put up was atrocious. As for Sanders, the tape wasn't great; he showed small flashes, but it wasn't enough to outweigh the bad. Watson or Sanders will get a fair opportunity to win the job, but which quarterback will the team benefit from if they were to get the nod? GM Andrew Berry and Monken both have said it's all about production, but will the decision be more nuanced than that?
For Watson, it's his last chance to prove he can play in the NFL. Since being traded to the Browns in a blockbuster deal, he hasn't been anything close to the Pro Bowl play we saw during his tenure with the Houston Texans. An argument can be made that Watson's first full year as the starter, after missing half of the season due to his suspension the year prior, showed signs of competency. The layoff was evident, but as the 2023 season went on, Watson showed signs of the old Watson at times.
However, injuries hampered the QB relatively quickly; then he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, but the team managed to get to the postseason despite that. Watson came back in 2024, but he was a shell of himself before tearing his Achilles. His decision-making looked worse, his athleticism began to dip, and his arm strength started to diminish. Watson didn't play the entire 2025 season as he recovered from his Achilles tear.
In terms of benefits, Cleveland gets little to no benefit starting Watson mainly due to the fact that the team is in year two of a rebuild. If winning games was the priority, and Watson won the job by a decent margin, his starting would make sense.

#sanders #play #Browns

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Recap: Day 4 – Red zone drills, TDs, and INTs (Chris Pokorny) – "Day 4 of Cleveland Browns training camp took place on Saturday, August 1. Both quarterbacks competing to start spoke to the media before practice."
Cleveland Browns: No one is ready to close the door on Deshaun Watson (Thomas Moore) – "The Cleveland Browns, and by extension their fans, are so close that they can reach out and almost touch it. Four-and-a-half years after the Browns made their confessed "big swing and miss" on quarterback Deshaun Watson, the end is almost here as Watson enters the final year of his five-year, fully guaranteed contract. Except, what if Watson plays well enough this fall that the Browns convince themselves he is worthy of another contract?"
Todd Monken updates Browns QB competition, timing on making a decision (Jared Mueller) – "At least according to our poll, Cleveland Browns fans feel confident that either they know who the starting quarterback should be already or will after the joint practice and preseason game with the Buffalo Bills."
Browns QB competition: Watson came in with 'leg up,' Shedeur has 'upward trajectory' (Jared Mueller) – "The Cleveland Browns QB competition is the story of the team's training camp, even if it might be overblown by many fans and media. GM Andrew Berry and HC Todd Monken have made it clear that the only thing that matters is who produces the best between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, despite the latter's age and potential development."
After Myles, Giannis trades, Browns Jimmy Haslam weighs in on NFL, NBA rebuilding difficulty (Jared Mueller) – "In the span of three weeks, teams owned by Jimmy Haslam traded DE Myles Garrett and SF/PF Giannis Antetokounmpo in deals that included players and draft compensation. For the Cleveland Browns and Milwaukee Bucks, Haslam's teams, the trades reset their rosters and turn their attention toward the future."

#watson

BEREA ― Every throw has been chronicled. Every social media video has been broken down by thousands in order to gain some insight into who's ahead.
Turns out, for all of the talk about who's leading between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the Browns' starting quarterback job, the person making the decision doesn't really have a lean yet. In fact, coach Todd Monken would tell you that the evaluation process hasn't even started.
"When I'm scripting, I really am not scripting based on who's a quarterback," Monken said prior to the Browns' practice on Day 4 of training camp. "They each have a different skill set. So as of right now, I'm not evaluating any of them. … I'll take that back. We are evaluating, but not to that extreme. Nothing's going to be decided over these install practices. We're just getting it in, letting the guys compete, see where we're at.
"That's all positions. And then once we get further along in pads, the full installs are in, we get to compete against other people, that's really when I'm going to be able to see it because I haven't coached any of the four quarterbacks 'till now."
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#every

The Cleveland Browns QB competition is the story of the team's training camp, even if it might be overblown by many fans and media. GM Andrew Berry and HC Todd Monken have made it clear that the only thing that matters is who produces the best between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, despite the latter's age and potential development.
Sanders has been taking on some leadership and mentorship responsibility with rookie QB Taylen Green and could really benefit from adding a quick deep ball to his ***** nal, according to one ***** yst. Watson, on the other hand, is hoping to have a bounce-back season some six years after his last quality play.
Heading into training camp, Watson reportedly had the lead in the quarterback competition. That was reiterated by The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, live from Berea, but the long-time reporter also noted the positives seen from Sanders, something noted by team reporter Nathan Zegura this offseason as well:
While there has been noted concern about the Browns offense so far in training camp, including by Monken, who noted the team's defense is making things tough for their counterparts, improvement from Sanders could push things to another level.
What do you think about the above report, and who do you think leads the QB competition as the 1st week of camp winds down?

#reporter #things

The Cleveland Browns made it through Day 2 of training camp on Thursday under the watchful eye of visiting Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
That led to far too many breathless questions from the media to head coach Todd Monken about what Sanders the elder thought about various things related to the Browns.
Fortunately, that did not distract from the important work at hand for Monken, which includes:
Figuring out who the starting quarterback will be from the equally poor choices of Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. (Best get comfy, Browns fans, because Monken is in no hurry.)
Determining which pieces of the rebuilt offensive line fit best, with plenty of combinations on the field in the early part of camp.

#thursday

To the surprise of almost no one, the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition has not been the star of the show in Day 1 or Day 2 of training camp. Week 1 of Browns training camp still has two more practices, and the decision on whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders will be the team's starter is not required until Week 1 of the season, as both HC Todd Monken and GM Andrew Berry have noted during the first two days in Berea.
Berry also noted that the only variable that matters in deciding the competition is production, not Sanders' age and developmental arc, Watson's contract and history, or any other thing.
According to Ben Solak of ESPN, Sanders' lack of "elite size to shrug off contact" and lack of "special arm talent," along with being a "below-average mover for the position," means he needs to be able to make sure he has perfected one specific throw:
If Sanders is to succeed at the NFL level, he needs this throw in his bag: the quick-release vertical ball against one-on-one coverage. It will be hard for him to create explosive plays otherwise.
The type of throw that Solak is describing Sanders needs is similar to the deep throws Russell Wilson often threw down the sidelines, which were often described as "moon **** ." Those throws do not require a big arm, per se, but great timing and placement are key attributes that can lead to big plays.

#throw #berry #solak #training