Overview
- Todd Monken confirmed on Wednesday that Shedeur Sanders will be active and serve as Cleveland’s backup for the Week 1 game at Jacksonville when asked directly if Sanders would dress.
- The Browns named Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter after a preseason competition that featured shared first-team reps and two exhibition games used heavily for evaluation.
- Monken earlier raised the possibility of dressing rookie Taylen Green in a limited package role, which could have cost a game-day roster spot, but the team opted to keep Sanders available as the primary insurance.
- Sanders is unlikely to see meaningful regular-season snaps unless Watson is injured or performs poorly, a cautious stance informed by Sanders’ mixed rookie numbers of 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 68.1 passer rating.
- The decision comes with broader roster context — including offseason moves that lowered expectations — and leaves the Browns reliant on Watson’s durability, with Sanders and occasional package plays for Green the main contingencies to watch this season.