08/24/26 09:39:00
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08/24 09:37 CDT Deshaun Watson named Cleveland Browns starting quarterback, AP
source says
Deshaun Watson named Cleveland Browns starting quarterback, AP source says
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
BEREA, Ohio (AP) --- Deshaun Watson has won the competition to be the Cleveland
Browns starting quarterback for the Sept. 13 opener against the Jacksonville
Jaguars, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because coach Todd Monken has not
publicly announced the move.
Watson, a 10-year veteran, won the competition over Shedeur Sanders as both
split reps with the first unit throughout the offseason, training camp and the
preseason.
The decision will not be popular with Browns fans, who have booed Watson
repeatedly during his time in Cleveland.
Monken said Sunday that Watson's comments after the Browns' 31-7 loss to the
Buffalo Bills on Saturday were not expected to play a deciding factor in his
final decision.
Watson has started only 19 games for Cleveland since being acquired from
Houston in 2022 and signing a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract that will
likely go down as perhaps one of the worst trades and contract in NFL history.
He is 9-10 with the Browns with 19 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions and an
80.7 passer rating.
Many thought Watson's time with the Browns would be over after he said the boos
on Saturday were "personal" and showed "disrespect" after he took the field in
Cleveland for the first time in 22 months.
"I thought being away for two years and working myself back from two Achilles
injuries and putting the time in, being around the facility, being around the
city, doing charity work in the city, supporting the Cleveland Browns, hanging
out with fans whenever I do see them, being honest, being the type of person I
know I am, and the character would help, and I guess it hasn't," he said after
completing 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception while on the field
with players at the bottom of the roster who likely will be cut in a couple of
weeks.
As Watson was rehabbing from rupturing his right Achilles twice, owner Jimmy
Haslam said during last year's owners meetings that the Browns "took a big
swing and miss" when they sent three first-round picks to Houston for Watson in
2022.
Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and directed two scoring drives
working with other starters and the second team during the first half of the
preseason opener at Chicago.
Sanders has shown steady improvement throughout the offseason. He started the
final seven games of his rookie season, going 3-4 with seven touchdowns and 10
interceptions.
Sanders went 9 of 11 for 74 yards with a touchdown and interception during the
first half against the Bills. Sanders completed his first eight passes before
he was picked off by Damar Hamlin on a pass he threw behind tight end Jermaine
Terry.
He was 6 of 11 for 79 yards with an interception in the second half against the
Bears.
Sanders' biggest improvement is his ability to stand in the pocket as well as
move up when he needs to, along with better footwork and decision making.
Even though Sanders will be on the sideline for the opener, he is likely to
start at some point this season.
In 2022, Watson missed the first 11 games because of a league suspension
resulting from his alleged sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.
He made six starts in 2023 before a season-ending shoulder injury and started
seven in 2024 before the first of two Achilles tendon injuries.
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