When Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson could 'separate from the other' during Browns' competition

All that's really certain about the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation is that first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken declined to name either veteran Deshaun Watson or second-year pro Shedeur Sanders the team's Week 1 starter ahead of the NFL's ongoing summer break. 

Veteran Browns players are due to report for training camp on July 28. For a piece published on Monday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic detailed when the competition for Cleveland's QB1 job will get interesting as it pertains to Monken eventually making his final decision. 

When Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson may pull away from the other in the QB competition

"It’s fair to guess that the QB reps will be distributed evenly over the first four days of training camp, the mandated acclimation days," Jackson wrote. "After a day off on Aug. 2, the Browns will be allowed to be in full pads starting Aug. 3 and are scheduled to hold practices on six consecutive days. If either Watson or Sanders is going to separate from the other — in performance and/or in share of the reps — that second week of full camp figures to be the first opportunity. The third week of camp has three practices on the schedule ahead of the Aug. 15 preseason opener [at the Chicago Bears]."

Watson has reportedly held a lead over Sanders in the QB battle since late April. However, Sanders allegedly closed what was once thought to be a significant gap before he took his last snap of mandatory minicamp in June. According to Jackson, "Sanders was clearly a more confident player in the back half of the offseason program than he was early." 

If such confidence continues to grow in Sanders, he may only get better through the preseason. 

"The fourth week of camp features the Browns’ Aug. 20 joint practice with the Buffalo Bills, the final practice ahead of the Browns-Bills preseason game on Aug. 22," Jackson continued. "Assuming both Watson and Sanders stay healthy and neither clearly wins the competition early in August, that joint practice and the preseason game probably serve as something close to last call for Monken to make a decision."

The Browns will finish the preseason with a home game against the New England Patriots on Aug. 27. Jackson noted that Browns fans should "expect the No. 1 offense and the projected starting quarterback to play at least a quarter and maybe a full half in the preseason finale." 

Thus, Monken may want to have that portion of his depth chart written in ink by the final Thursday of August. 

Why Browns want to have both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson on the roster

The Browns reportedly plan to keep Sanders through the end of the summer even if Watson wins the starting job. Jackson explained why that likely is the case.

"History says both players will be needed," Jackson added about Sanders and Watson. "And that’s not to imply anything or to mock anyone, but the Browns have had nine different quarterbacks make starts over the last three seasons. Last year’s four-man camp competition took an immediate turn when Kenny Pickett, who had been first up in a lot of practice-drill lines, suffered a hamstring injury on the fourth day of camp and ended up being traded before he again completed a full practice." 

In short, it sounds like people within the Browns believe that Watson and Sanders could both take meaningful in-game snaps this coming fall.