Todd Monken nears Browns quarterback decision between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders

Quarterback decision set for Monday

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken plans to announce the team's starting quarterback on Monday ahead of the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Monken is choosing between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders following two preseason contests. The announcement follows Cleveland's 31-7 home defeat against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Monken stated that Watson's postgame remarks about the home crowd will not determine who earns the starting job.

What I am concerned about is us playing well as a team and offense. When you play well none of the other stuff matters.

Home crowd reaction and Watson response

Watson appeared in his first home contest in Cleveland since Week 7 of the 2024 season, when he suffered the first of two Achilles tendon ruptures against the Cincinnati Bengals. Spectators booed Watson across his four second-half possessions following a weather delay of nearly one hour. The quarterback had played 19 games for Cleveland across previous seasons after arriving via trade in 2022. Watson addressed the crowd's response during his postgame press conference, pointing to his recovery efforts and past community presence across the city.

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.

Preseason quarterback production

Both quarterbacks have alternated halves across Cleveland's two exhibition games. Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception against Buffalo while playing alongside roster reserves. In the preseason opener at Chicago, Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and guided two scoring drives during the first half. Sanders started against the Bills, completing 9 of 11 attempts for 74 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Against the Bears, Sanders completed 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards with one interception during second-half action.

Defensive injuries and roster changes

The Browns adjusted their defensive front on Sunday by placing starting defensive end Alex Wright on injured reserve and signing veteran free agent Derek Barnett. Wright sustained a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon on Thursday during a one-on-one drill against Buffalo offensive tackle Spencer Brown during joint practices. Wright, who signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension in November, recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks and 37 tackles in 14 games last season. The 25-year-old defender has totaled 11.5 sacks and 98 tackles in 51 career games for Cleveland since being drafted in 2022. ESPN reported that Barnett agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million.

Front seven restructuring

Barnett joins Cleveland after recording five sacks and 21 tackles in 17 games off the bench for the Houston Texans last season. Over his 10-year NFL career with Philadelphia and Houston, Barnett has totaled 34 sacks and 216 tackles across 112 games. Cleveland is restructuring its defensive line after trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in June, six months after Garrett won his second Defensive Player of the Year award. The Browns coaching staff will evaluate Barnett alongside Isaiah McGuire and Mike Hall Jr. for starting snaps opposite Jared Verse.