Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders Battle for Browns QB1 Job

Deshaun Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards in Cleveland's preseason opener against Chicago, but a failed two-minute possession capped his performance on a sour note. Shedeur Sanders followed in the second half and finished with a 39.6 passer rating after throwing an interception.

• 43 of Watson's 126 yards came on a single screen pass to Dylan Sampson.
• Watson averaged 4.4 air yards per attempt and did not complete a pass beyond 10 yards in the air.
• Sanders went 6 of 11 for 79 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.
• Sanders' interception came on a well-protected throw that sailed over a receiver's head.

Why it matters: Coach Todd Monken identified the two-minute drill as a central evaluation tool for both quarterbacks. Watson got an unexpected chance after a Bears interception gave Cleveland possession near midfield late in the half — and punted after running just 17 seconds off the clock.

• Monken runs a vertically oriented passing attack; Sanders showed early willingness to throw downfield while Watson's style was more conservative.
• Neither quarterback separated himself, leaving the starting job unsettled heading into Week 2.

How 12 sources split on this story

Where they split: Both outlets agree neither quarterback stood out, but coverage diverges on which performance was more damaging to his case.

What’s next: Sanders starts the first half of the Week 2 preseason game against Buffalo; Watson plays the second half.

• The Browns also hold a joint practice with the Bills before that game.
• Can either quarterback demonstrate enough in Week 2 to give Monken a clear starter before the regular season?
• Will Watson's pocket apprehension, noted by NFL Network analyst Gerald McCoy, persist with more game reps?