The Cleveland Browns face some challenging decisions regarding their quarterback situation.
Deshaun Watson will start in the upcoming Week 2 game against the Buccaneers.
Following that match, the team plans to reassess who will be starting for their home opener against Carolina in Week 3.
Shedeur Sanders, a second-year player, is in the mix for the starting role again. Watson managed to secure the position during training camp while returning from an Achilles injury that had sidelined him the previous season.
However, Watson’s comeback hasn’t gone smoothly. He received criticism from fans during the preseason, and his on-field performance has included some questionable decisions. In Week 1, he started against Jacksonville and threw an interception on just his third throw of the game.
The 31-year-old quarterback ended the match having completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown, but he also faced five sacks in the Browns’ 34-10 defeat.
There’s noticeable frustration within the Browns organization regarding the offense’s performance. New head coach Todd Monken expressed his support for Watson as the starting quarterback.
“I expect Deshaun will be our starter,” Monken said when questioned about the team’s locker room sentiments. “Honestly… there’s no debate here. I appreciate our players, but if we start second-guessing, we lose focus on what’s important.”
The Browns had previously drafted two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft and added rookie Taylen Green in the sixth round this year.
If the current quarterbacks fail to stand out, Cleveland could explore their options again in the next draft.
With multiple first-round picks scheduled for 2027, particularly in a year rich with talent at the quarterback position, the pressure is on. With no definitive decision made for Week 3 yet, Watson could be facing one of his final opportunities to prove himself as a starter in Cleveland, depending significantly on his performance against the Buccaneers this Sunday.
