A significant development has emerged in the Cleveland Browns' training camp quarterback competition, with Deshaun Watson appearing to regain momentum over Shedeur Sanders. While the team had been rotating first-team repetitions between the two players since the start of camp, Saturday’s session saw a notable deviation from the expected schedule. Despite the day being designated for Sanders to lead the first offense, Watson took the primary reps, while Dillon Gabriel worked with the second team.
ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported that after a series of plays, Gabriel stepped in to lead the second offense, following a session where Watson handled all first-team duties. This shift is particularly significant as head coach Todd Monken prepares to meet with his staff this weekend to determine the starting quarterback for next week’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, with an official decision expected by Monday. Monken has previously noted that the preseason starter will not automatically secure the role for the season opener in Jacksonville, yet the decision to prioritize Watson for first-team reps remains a critical indicator of the team's current evaluation.
The competition carries heavy implications for Watson, who is working to rejuvenate his career following a twice-torn Achilles injury last season. Having played only 19 games since joining the franchise in 2022, Watson faces intense pressure to prove his viability. Conversely, Shedeur Sanders is aiming to build upon a rookie season that included 10 interceptions across seven starts. Although Sanders has shown strong performance in camp, potentially fueling speculation about him earning the starting job, Dillon Gabriel has now inserted himself into the mix as a legitimate third contender. Monken has expressed satisfaction with Gabriel's output and indicated that he will increase the second-year quarterback's reps if his consistency persists. Notably, Sanders and Gabriel previously competed for starting roles last season, where both players eventually saw time on the field.
2 offense," reported ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.
"The team also just finished another set of team drills, with Watson leading the 1s and Gabriel leading the 2s."Daniel Oyefusi @DanielOyefusiLINKThrough the first two portions of team drills, Deshaun Watson has taken all the reps with the 1s.
