Browns split preseason starts between Sanders, Watson

Todd Monken has set a short timetable for Cleveland’s quarterback decision. The Browns coach said Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will each start one of the team’s first two preseason games, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe and an NBC Sports report that cited Wolfe. The Browns have not yet decided which quarterback will start the Aug. 15 preseason opener at the Chicago Bears and which will start Aug. 22 at home against the Buffalo Bills. The quarterback who leads after those two games is likely to start Cleveland’s final preseason game on Aug. 27 against the New England Patriots. ### Which games are Cleveland using to sort out the job? The Browns’ first three preseason dates are already set: Aug. 15 at Chicago, Aug. 22 against Buffalo and Aug. 27 against New England. Monken’s plan covers the first two of those games, with one start going to Sanders and the other to Watson. NBC Sports reported that the next week of practice would help determine the order. (nbcsports.com) Chicago is the first decision point. Cleveland has not announced whether Sanders or Watson will open against the Bears, and the same uncertainty applies to the Aug. 22 game against the Bills. The current plan, as reported by Wolfe and repeated by NBC Sports, is to use those two starts as the basis for the next call. (nbcsports.com) ### What has Monken said publicly about the competition? Todd Monken told reporters at the start of camp that Sanders and Watson would alternate first-team reps, a setup that has carried into August. The Browns’ official site said on Aug. 1 that Sanders and Watson had alternated days of first-team work during training camp. (nbcsports.com) June 22 was the point when the Browns’ official team site said the quarterback competition was expected to continue into training camp. That preview listed Sanders, Watson, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green in the room, but the current preseason-start plan centers on Sanders and Watson. (clevelandbrowns.com) ### Where do Sanders and Watson stand entering those games? Shedeur Sanders has continued to take first-team work in camp. The Browns’ Aug. 1 training-camp report said Sanders connected with wide receiver Denzel Boston on a deep ball during an 11-on-11 period and noted that he and Watson had been alternating first-team reps. (clevelandbrowns.com) Deshaun Watson has also been working in designed quarterback-run concepts during camp. A Browns.com report published Aug. 1 said Watson was becoming more comfortable in the offense, and quoted him saying he would trust the coaching staff when those plays were called. (clevelandbrowns.com) ### Why is the Browns’ timeline so short? August 15 is Cleveland’s preseason opener, which leaves roughly one week of practice to decide who gets the first exhibition start. Wolfe reported that Monken had not yet chosen the order and that the upcoming week would likely determine it. The Browns also appear to be trying to make the third preseason game matter. (clevelandbrowns.com) NBC Sports reported that the leader after the first two exhibitions would likely start the Aug. 27 game against the Patriots, giving Cleveland a three-step preseason process instead of naming a starter before the opener. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What comes next on the calendar? Aug. 15 at Soldier Field is the next scheduled checkpoint for Cleveland’s quarterback competition. One of Sanders or Watson will start that game, and the other is expected to open Aug. 22 against Buffalo before the Browns make another decision ahead of Aug. 27 against New England. (nbcsports.com)