Browns' Day 5 pads: Sanders shines as Watson's offense stalls
In the first day of pads at Browns training camp, backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders made several big plays, while starter Deshaun Watson and the first-team offense struggled with drops, penalties and missed throws.
The Cleveland Browns held their first day in pads on Monday, with second-team quarterback Shedeur Sanders delivering multiple scoring plays, including a fade to tight end Gage Larvadain for a touchdown during a two-minute drill. Sanders and Larvadain, who practiced together on the scout team last season, connected easily for the score against undrafted rookie Michael Coates Jr.
The first-team offense, led by starter Deshaun Watson, was less effective, committing several dropped passes, penalties and a delay of game. Watson, who had thrown six interceptions in the first four practices, did not record a turnover on Monday but still struggled to sustain drives.
"I'm not evaluating the quarterbacks heavily until the installation period is over," head coach Todd Monken said, adding that the early penalties and offsides were a concern.
Watson acknowledged the difficulty of alternating between first and second teams, noting that limited timing with receivers makes it harder to develop rhythm.
Both quarterbacks faced setbacks during drills: Watson's two-minute drill pass to Isaiah Bond was broken up, and a potential sack by defensive end Jared Verse was recorded. Sanders also experienced a fumble by Ahmani Marshall and a false-start penalty in his drill.
The Browns plan to complete eight installation sessions by Thursday before Monken tailors practices to each quarterback's strengths. The coaching staff will later decide which quarterback receives the majority of first-team reps as the regular season approaches.