Browns name Watson starter for preseason opener, Sanders to follow
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken confirmed on August 12 that veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson will start the preseason opener on August 3, with second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders slated to start the following game. The announcement follows a week-long quarterback competition in training camp, during which Monken was alternating reps between Watson and Sanders and at times gave Watson full first-team snaps, according to NBC Sports. Earlier reports had suggested a rotation in which each quarterback would start a half of the first preseason game, but Monken later said the plan remained tentative, also reported by NBC Sports.
On a practice he shifted focus to Watson, granting him full first-team reps, after backup Sanders had shown big plays in the first day of pads while Watson's offense struggled with drops and penalties, as noted by Cleveland. com.