The Browns' starting quarterback competition that has taken place throughout the summer and during training camp will continue into the preseason games.Deshaun Watson will start the first preseason game against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday, while Shedeur Sanders will get the start in the second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22, Monken announced Wednesday.— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 12, 2026"I have my reasons for how it's going to go, and it's still a competition," Monken said. "We're excited to watch guys practice today, let alone on Saturday, and then next week against Buffalo, and we'll get a chance to see them both. Every week we'll assess it. It'll be a little bit more difficult with the player who doesn't play as much this week or the other quarterbacks, right? We'll be able to assess the quarterback who started and how he played, and when the other quarterbacks came in and then the opposite will be next week against Buffalo."Watson hasn't played in a game since 2024, when he tore his right Achilles in Week 7 of that season. He re-ruptured the same Achilles again on Jan. 6, 2025. Those two injuries came after he tore his rotator cuff and suffered a displaced fracture of the shoulder scapula, injuries that caused him to miss the final eight games of the 2023 season.Now fully healthy, Watson is excited for the opportunity to get back on the field and believes the preseason would be a "great" opportunity for him, as he has played in only 19 games since 2020, all of which came with the Browns between 2021-24. In the three-year stretch, Watson's 33.1 Total QBR ranked last among qualified quarterbacks if he had enough starts to qualify."I'm super excited," Watson said before Wednesday's practice. "All the hard work that I put in with the training staff, with my team, my personal team, to get to this stage has been tremendous for me. So, I'm super excited for those opportunities and can't wait for it."Sanders, meanwhile, started the final seven games of his rookie season after he was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft. While completing only 56.6% of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, Sanders' 18.9 QBR is the fifth-lowest among 696 quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts since 2006.But with one year of NFL experience under his belt, Sanders feels like he has something to prove ahead of his second season.Shedeur Sanders throws a BEAUTIFUL deep pass that is dropped by Jerry Jeudy #Browns #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/cnvJmwL8EP— BenchwarmerSports (@WarmedBench) August 12, 2026"We approach practice like a game," Sanders said Wednesday. "So it's the same amount of focus and experience. So that's why I'm excited: to feel how similar it feels to practice, honestly. Because it's a different type of intention and a mentality that we go out there every day with.Watson and Sanders will likely each play a half in the first preseason game. The head coach also wants each quarterback to experience a two-minute drill on Saturday."I have my reasons for how it's going to go, and it's still a competition," Monken said. "We're excited to watch guys practice today, let alone on Saturday, and then next week against Buffalo, and we'll get a chance to see them both. Every week we'll assess it. It'll be a little bit more difficult with the player that doesn't play as much this week or the other quarterbacks, right? We'll be able to assess the quarterback that started and how he played and when the other quarterbacks came in and then the opposite will be next week against Buffalo."Watson and Sanders have alternated reps with the first-team offense throughout the first eight practices of training camp. Despite Watson taking first-team reps on back-to-back days (Aug. 7-8) – the first of which was in helmets, while the second was in pads – it was simply to even out the reps each quarterback took with the starters. Cleveland once again alternated first-team reps between Watson and Sanders this week.Both quarterbacks have had plenty of ups and downs throughout training camp. For Watson, it's becoming more consistent and accurate as a veteran quarterback. He threw nine interceptions in the Browns' first 12 practices of training camp but didn't turn the ball over on Wednesday.But as the days go on, Watson admits that he feels more comfortable in Monken's offense each step of the way. Whether it's watching film or on-field practice, Watson understands how he must improve going forward.the name's Bond. @isaiahbond_ 😎@deshaunwatson | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/qR7vumwUBw— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 7, 2026"My job every day is what I live by," Watson said. "I just keep trying to win the day, and every day I take it one day at a time. Can't rush anything and let the football that I've been doing my whole life kind of take care of itself. So again, I'm in a good spot, and I just keep trying to work and find ways to get better."Quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian also sees Watson's improvement as practices go on and the quarterback gains more confidence and becomes more comfortable in Monken's offense.stretched down the sideline 🙌@OfficialTylan2 | @deshaunwatson pic.twitter.com/ODu2RKLn2B— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 11, 2026"He threw some interceptions early, and he's done a good job of protecting the football as of late. There was a string of three or four practices — the days run together — where there were zero picks from him. So, he's done a good job of that," quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian said on Aug. 8. "On his good days, he's been decisive, his anticipation's been on point, and he's getting rid of the ball on time without having to move around in the pocket."While Monken has seen improvement from both Watson and Sanders at times during training camp, he also realizes that preseason games will be much more telling than practices."I've seen a lot of really good things over the course of the four or five months I've been here," Monken said of Watson. "I think he's done a lot of really good things athletically, making plays that we're going to get a chance to see, because we're not live. We'll see if that comes to play when we get out there and go."Smart Decision by MonkenWith the quarterback competition contuining into the preseason games, allowing both quarterbacks to start is a smart decision by Monken. It allows both Watson and Sanders to have live reps against anotehr opponent besides Cleveland's defense. But the smarter decision for the head coach is giving Watson the start in the first preseason game, which will be played in Chicago, while starting Sanders the second preseason game, which will be in Cleveland.The last time Watson played in a game (in 2024), he was booed by Cleveland fans while down on the field due to a ruptured Achilles. Watson was also booed at times during training camp over the last two weeks.Giving Sanders the start at home not only puts each quarterback in the best position to succeed and prove that they should earn the starting job, but it also makes things less awkward than they need to be.Things Could Obviously Change Regarding the Second Preseason GameWith the Bills in town next week for joint practices with the Browns in Berea, each team will get plenty of live action against each other before the preseason game between the two on Aug. 22. With that, the playing time and amount of snaps Watson and Sanders receive in the actual preseason game could change from what Monken expects to happen on Wednesday.But the current plan is for each quarterback to start – and play a half – in the first two preseason games, with Watson set to start on Saturday against the Bears and Sanders to start a week after against the Bills.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow