Particle.news

Monken Names Watson Week 1 Starter While Weighing Taylen Green Activation

The decision could make Shedeur Sanders the emergency gameday quarterback and force the Browns to choose which QBs they activate under NFL rules.

Overview

  • Coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson the Browns’ Week 1 starter Monday, with Shedeur Sanders listed as the primary backup.
  • Monken said the team is considering a limited offensive package for rookie Taylen Green that would exploit his rare size-speed combination and situational rushing ability.
  • Monken also warned that dressing three active quarterbacks on game day is difficult, which means the Browns may have to designate one quarterback as the emergency option under NFL rules.
  • If Cleveland activates Watson and Green for a game, the emergency designation could leave Sanders inactive even though he remains the logical full-game replacement if Watson is injured or ineffective.
  • Dillon Gabriel is on injured reserve and won’t be practice-eligible until October, keeping the QB competition between Sanders and Green as the key short-term depth question for the Browns.