Overview
- Todd Monken announced Deshaun Watson will start the Browns’ opener on Sept. 13 and said fan backlash will not affect his decision.
- Monken told reporters he has not reviewed Watson’s prior Browns game tape and prefers to give the quarterback a clean slate under the new staff.
- Inside reporting says Watson may have a narrow evaluation period of roughly four to six games before the team seriously considers switching to Shedeur Sanders and pundits have even speculated about an immediate benching.
- Shedeur Sanders enters the season as Watson’s primary backup and the leading internal replacement while Dillon Gabriel begins the year on injured reserve and rookie Taylen Green provides the third-string option.
- Watson’s multi-year injury history — including 2023 shoulder surgery and repeated Achilles injuries and surgeries in 2024–25 — and his limited play for Cleveland raise questions about his deep-ball effectiveness and the Browns’ short- and medium-term quarterback planning.