Watson tapped to start Browns' preseason opener

Watson tapped to start Browns' preseason opener --> Skip to main content Skip to navigation MenuESPN scores NFLNBAMLBSoccerWNBANHLNCAAFMore SportsBoxingNCAACricketF1GamingGolfHorseLLWSMMANASCARNLLNBA G LeagueNBA Summer LeagueNCAAMNCAAWNWSLOlympicsPLLRacingRN BBRN FBRugbyBananasSports BettingTGLTennisUFLMen's World CupWWEProfessional WrestlingEditionsWhere to WatchFantasyWatch NFLHomeScoresScheduleStandingsStatsTeamsOddsFantasy FootballWhere To WatchDepth ChartsInjuriesTransactionsDraftOddsFree AgencyCoachesPlayoff BracketSuper BowlFootball Power IndexPlayersScheduleWeekly LeadersTotal QBRNFL HistorySuper Bowl WinnersTickets Watson tapped to start Browns' preseason openerCleveland Browns13hDaniel OyefusiPanthers add to TE room, bring on veteran WallerCarolina Panthers11hMike KayeRodgers on Lambeau return: 'Has to be an invite'Green Bay Packers17hRob DemovskySteelers bring back LB Roberts on one-year dealPittsburgh Steelers11hMcCarthy: Vikings' QB decision 'out of my control'Minnesota Vikings13hKevin SeifertTua to start Friday, not yet named Falcons' QB1Atlanta Falcons18hMarc RaimondiJohnson's bold goal: Bears set NFL scoring recordChicago Bears18hWhat Kyler Murray as QB1 means for Vikings and J.J. 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McCarthy's futureMinnesota Vikings2dKevin Seifert'This is beautifully done': See inside the new Highmark Stadium as Bills practice and fans take it inBuffalo Bills1dAlaina GetzenbergJonas Brothers tapped to perform at 49ers-Rams in AustraliaLos Angeles Rams10hAssociated PressDo NFL superteams actually win? Barnwell sized up historic big favorites -- and the 2026 RamsLos Angeles Rams3dBill BarnwellNFL preseason on NFL Network, ESPN: How to watch, schedule13dESPNBrowns name Watson starting QB for preseason openerplayBrowns to split reps at QB1 in preseason (0:27) BEREA, Ohio -- Deshaun Watson will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders will start the team's second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Browns coach Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks of his decision after practice Wednesday. Watson and Sanders have been alternating first-team practice reps in Cleveland's quarterback competition Saturday's exhibition will mark Watson's first game since he tore his right Achilles tendon in October 2024. He sat out the 2025 season after undergoing a second Achilles surgery in January 2025. Monken said before Wednesday's practice that he hoped to play whomever starts at quarterback for one half. The quarterback who does not start would then play in the third quarter. Watson said the preseason would be a "great opportunity" for him as he has played in only 19 games because of suspension and injuries since being traded to the Browns in March 2022. Since making his debut in Cleveland, Watson's 33.1 Total QBR would rank last among qualifying quarterbacks if he had enough starts to qualify. "I'm super excited," Watson said Wednesday. "I think all the hard work that I've put in with the training staff, with my team, my personal team, to get to this stage has been tremendous for myself. So, I'm super excited for those opportunities and can't wait for it." Sanders, the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, started the final seven games of his rookie season. Sanders went 3-4 as a starter, throwing seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown. Sanders recorded a 18.9 QBR as a rookie, the fifth-lowest mark among 696 quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts in the QBR era (since 2006). Coaches, though, have praised Sanders' pre-snap and post-snap development, dating to the offseason workout program. "We approach practice like a game," Sanders said Wednesday. "So it's the same amount of focus and experiences. So that's why I'm excited: to feel how similar does it feel to practice, honestly. Because it's a different type of intention and a mentality that we go out there every day with."

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Source: ESPN

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