Following a difficult 34-10 loss in their preseason opener this Saturday, the Cleveland Browns are facing scrutiny regarding their quarterback situation. Head coach Todd Monken, who took the helm in January after previously serving as the team's offensive coordinator in 2019, utilized a rotation featuring Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel during the game. None of the three players managed to make a significant impact, leading to immediate public critique.
Analyst Sam Monsoon weighed in on the situation shortly after the game, issuing a direct reality check to Monken regarding the decision for the team's primary signal-caller. In a post on social media, Monsoon stated there was essentially no reason to favor Watson over Sanders for the upcoming season, noting that Watson is no less prone to negative plays and appears less aggressive with the football. During the matchup against the Bears, Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 128 yards and recorded one sack, while Sanders, who entered his second season after starting the final seven games of the 2025 campaign as a rookie, went six of 11 for 79 yards with one interception.
Monken has yet to officially name a starting quarterback for the 2026 season, with the preseason serving as a critical evaluation period to determine who is best suited to lead the offense. The context of the competition is complicated by Watson’s recent history, as he missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to a re-torn Achilles tendon. The Browns, who finished the 2025 season with a 5-12 record and have not reached the playoffs since 2023, have two remaining preseason games to finalize their strategy. They are scheduled to face the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 22, at 1:00 PM ET, and the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 27, at 8:00 PM ET, with both contests taking place at Huntington Bank Field.
Meanwhile, Sanders, who was a rookie last season, started the final seven games of the campaign for the Browns.ALSO READ: "Stopped at 4 out of respect": $3,500,000,000 MLB team brutally mocks Jayden Daniels amid LSU jersey fiascoALSO READ: "Some things never change," "Cut him": NFL fans rip "brain dead" Tua Tagovailoa for repeating same mistakes from Dolphins days on Falcons debutALSO READ: "This is inexcusable," "Fire him": NFL fans rip Kevin Stefanski over "horrendous" performance in Falcons' humiliating loss to BroncosFull remaining 2026 preseason schedule for Todd Monken's BrownsCleveland Browns HC Todd Monken – Source: GettyTodd Monken's Browns will play two more preseason games before turning their attention toward the 2026 regular season.
Here's a look at Cleveland's remaining preseason games:Week 2: vs.
