Browns' Todd Monken gives update on timeline for Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders decision

A Monday report said that first-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken will "likely" name either veteran Deshaun Watson or second-year pro Shedeur Sanders the team's Week 1 starting quarterback shortly after Cleveland plays its second game of the preseason, a home matchup versus the Buffalo Bills, on Aug. 22.

While speaking with reporters on Monday afternoon, Monken suggested that he won't necessarily pick a winner of the Watson-Sanders competition on Aug. 23 or Aug. 24. 

Browns still "have a lot of football" before final Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders decision is made

Per Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette, Monken did not commit to naming a starting quarterback next Monday. 

"We have a lot of football this week," Monken said, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic.  

The perception exists that Watson took the lead in the competition before he received the start for Cleveland's preseason opener at the Chicago Bears this past Saturday. Against the Bears, he completed 11-of-15 passes for 126 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also lost a fumble after he took a sack.

To compare, Sanders connected on six of 11 pass attempts for 79 yards and an awful interception that occurred after he sailed a pass well over his intended target. Nevertheless, Sanders is on track to start against the Bills and play through the end of the first half.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a majority of starters from both teams may sit out Saturday's game if Monken and first-year Bills head coach Joe Brady are happy with what occurs during Thursday's joint practice involving the two clubs. It also sounds like Cleveland's quarterback competition could potentially run through the final Thursday of August. 

What would be next if neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders is named the Browns' Week 1 starter early next week? 

According to NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Browns want to "start to tailor the offense to the starting quarterback — it’d look different for one than the other — and use the third preseason game to ramp up the offense in that direction for the" regular-season opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13. However, Monken seems to be open to keeping the competition going through Cleveland's preseason finale, a home game against the New England Patriots, on Aug. 27.