Browns likely to reassess quarterback role after Week 2 loss
Cleveland may consider a quarterback change following a 34-10 defeat, with Deshaun Watson's future as starter uncertain and backup Shedeur Sanders positioned as the next option.
The Cleveland Browns are expected to review their quarterback situation after a 34-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, ESPN and NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport said. > "While no firm decision has been made for Week 3, the belief is that the first two games would serve as a natural evaluation point," Rapoport explained, adding that the team could use the home opener in Cleveland as a catalyst for a change. Deshaun Watson is slated to start his second consecutive game, but if the Browns decide to move in a different direction, backup Shedeur Sanders would be the next man up. Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and an interception, and was sacked five times. Since returning from a two-year absence, his performance has fallen short of his 2020 Pro Bowl level, with an average of 178.5 yards and an 81.3 passer rating over 20 starts for Cleveland. Sanders, who threw for 1,353 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in his rookie season, remains the team's most viable long-term option at quarterback. The Browns hold two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, one potentially in the top five, and aim to determine Sanders' talent level before deciding whether to target a quarterback early in the draft.