Browns reporter offers strong response to Chad Johnson's Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson claim

Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson raised eyebrows and generated all kinds of discussions among Cleveland sports media personalities when he recently said that Deshaun Watson "is the starting quarterback for the" Cleveland Browns over 2025 rookie Shedeur Sanders.

The perception exists that Johnson is close with current Cleveland receiver Jerry Jeudy and, thus, may have some inside information regarding the club's quarterback competition. During a Tuesday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer offered a strong response to Johnson.

Browns reporter refutes suggestion that Deshaun Watson has already won starting job over Shedeur Sanders

"You can look all over the Internet and find different opinions, different reports on what's going on with the Browns' quarterback competition," Cabot said. "Just because a former player who may have talked to whoever put something out there like that, it doesn't mean that it's true." 

Shortly after Johnson's comments surfaced, longtime Cleveland sports personality Tony Rizzo revealed that there allegedly have been "talks" and "calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders." NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe later hinted that the Browns could "consider" trading Sanders if Watson is deemed the winner of the competition for the starting job. 

That said, it sounds like no such decision will be made before both Sanders and Watson report for training camp in late July. 

Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders on track to resume QB battle later this summer

"There is just nothing going on with it right now," Cabot added about the Browns' quarterback battle. "There is nothing new. This is the (NFL's summer) break, and nothing has changed. So, the reality of the situation is that those two guys will come back in training camp, and they will battle it out, and we'll see where it ends up."

Cabot is among the Browns reporters who are convinced the team will not bid on Brendan Sorsby if the former Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback is deemed eligible for the upcoming supplemental draft. Assuming she is correct, Sanders should receive opportunities to impress the current Cleveland coaching staff through at least the team's preseason opener at the Chicago Bears on Aug. 15.