Shedeur Sanders made an ugly throw in Browns’ preseason game

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Shedeur Sanders made an ugly throw in Browns’ preseason game

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Aug 15, 2026 5:23 PM ET

If Shedeur Sanders wants to win the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback job, he will likely have to show a lot more than he did on Saturday against the Chicago Bears.

Sanders uncorked a very ugly pass in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game. The second-year quarterback was targeting wide receiver Malachi Corley, but overthrew him badly and was intercepted by Bears defensive back Beanie Bishop.

Beanie Bishop Jr. gets the INT

CLEvsCHI on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/c8uNrWPLAr
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026

Sanders went 6/11 for 79 yards with an interception. Deshaun Watson, his primary competition, went 11/15 for 126 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, though he did lose a fumble.

Coach Todd Monken may have offered a hint as to his assessment of the performances, praising Watson for operating “at a high level.”

Monken on Watson: “It was awesome. It was so cool to watch him play. I get all the frustration – from fans and himself – but he’s worked so hard

“I thought he really functioned at a high level.”
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) August 15, 2026

Reports have suggested that Watson, not Sanders, has the early advantage in the quarterback battle. Watson did not wow anyone on Saturday, but Sanders also did not do very much to help himself. Interceptions were a problem for him last season, as he threw ten of them against seven touchdowns, and it is not a great sign that he airmailed a receiver here.

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