Report: Watson leads Browns QB race for Week 1

Deshaun Watson holds the inside track to start as the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 quarterback over Shedeur Sanders, according to a Cleveland.com report citing sources. The report follows minicamp sessions where Watson received more first-team reps than Sanders. Watson took the most snaps with the starters on both days of the voluntary veteran minicamp.

Watson has not played a snap in nearly two years after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Since then, the Browns drafted three quarterbacks: Dillon Gabriel in the third round last year, Sanders in the fifth round and Taylen Green last week. In the 2025 season, Gabriel started after Joe Flacco's trade before a concussion sidelined him, prompting Sanders to finish the year.

Cleveland ranked 31st in completion percentage at 57.89% and passing yards per game at 165.1 last season. Sanders posted a 56.6% completion rate and 4.7% interception rate across three starts, more wins than Gabriel and Flacco combined. Since joining the Browns before the 2021 season, Watson has appeared in 19 of 85 possible games for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions amid injuries and a suspension.

The Browns feature a young roster with running back Quinshon Judkins in his second season and recent high draft picks at wide receiver and offensive line. Watson enters the final year of his $230 million contract. Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas expressed confidence in Sanders.