Deshaun Watson to start Browns' preseason opener Saturday
Jeremy Fowler reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in their preseason opener against the Bears, with Shedeur Sanders in line to start the following week.
Deshaun Watson will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener Saturday against the Chicago Bears, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports, with Shedeur Sanders in line to start the second preseason game as the two quarterbacks continue splitting first-team reps.
Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN): Both QBs get their shot over two preseason games. Watson up first, then Sanders.
Pro Football Talk confirmed the plan, reporting the team announced Wednesday afternoon that Watson will start against the Bears. Head coach Todd Monken declined earlier in the day to name a starter, but said whoever opened would play the first half.
It will be Watson's first game action of any kind since he tore his Achilles during the 2024 season. "I'm super excited," Watson said Wednesday, via the team's website. "All the hard work that I put in with the training staff, with my team, my personal team, to get to this stage has been tremendous for me."
Watson and Sanders have shared first-team reps throughout camp, and Monken has not set a date for the competition to end. With each quarterback getting a preseason start, the Browns may not know who opens Week 1 until deep into August.