Browns seemingly get Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders verdict

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Browns seemingly get Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders verdict via joint practice with Bills

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 21, 2026 8:23 AM ET

Recent reports have indicated that second-year pro Shedeur Sanders would have to significantly outperform veteran Deshaun Watson during the Cleveland Browns' joint practice with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday to remain in the running to win the starting quarterback job through at least Cleveland's home preseason game against Buffalo this Saturday.

It sounds like Sanders fell short of achieving the stated goal.

Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders had "ho-hum day" against the Bills

"The same as it's been throughout all the camp," Browns reporter Jason Lloyd of The Athletic said about how Watson and Sanders performed against the Bills during an appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan.

"I didn't think one really had a particularly better day than the other. I thought it was exactly what we've seen. One or two good throws from Deshaun. One or two, 'what was that?' Same with Shedeur. Shedeur had one or two good throws I saw across the middle. And it was just like, just a kind of a ho-hum day. The best quarterback on the field was [Buffalo's Josh Allen]."

"I didn't think one [QB] really had a particularly better day than the other. I thought it was exactly what we've seen. I thought Dylan Sampson had the best day of anyone."

@ByJasonLloyd w/ @NickWilsonSays and @JPeterlin on his takeaways from the #Browns joint practice with… pic.twitter.com/DpJ9OLH0Ia
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 20, 2026

That presumably is good news for Watson, as he reportedly has held the lead in the competition for the starting job from late April through Thursday's practice. While Sanders is slated to start Saturday's game against the Bills, ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi noted that first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken said after practice that "older" Cleveland starters won't play versus Buffalo.

It's believed Monken could name his Week 1 QB1 as soon as Sunday or Monday so that the Browns' preseason finale against the New England Patriots on Aug. 27 can serve as a "dress rehearsal" game.

BROWNS VS BILLS JOINT PRACTICE IS A WRAP! Here’s how the QBs performed in team drills (11v11 and 7v7). Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders split 1st team reps. pic.twitter.com/qabPuUspyc
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 20, 2026

Why Browns are on track to make this Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders decision

"I do think Deshaun has outplayed Shedeur," Lloyd added during the segment. "...The way that they are seeing it is that Deshaun has been better. Deshaun had the lead coming in because of his experience. He hasn't run away with it by any means. But I think in their minds, he has performed better throughout camp, and it's his job at least to start the year."

"I think the coach has 100% call on this. I do think Deshaun has outplayed Shedeur. He hasn't run away with it by any means. I don't think that there's interference from above."

@ByJasonLloyd w/ @NickWilsonSays and @JPeterlin on who has the final say in the #Browns QB battle pic.twitter.com/TeVDbEyxT1
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 20, 2026

While Monken may not officially reveal the identity of his QB1 on Saturday, the coach could say plenty about his Week 1 depth chart if he ultimately sits Watson for the entire Bills game.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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