Deshaun Watson will open the Cleveland Browns' regular season as starting quarterback. Coach Todd Monken made the announcement Monday, ending a quarterback competition that began during the offseason workout program and ran through training camp and two preseason games.
Sanders, a second-year player, will back up Watson. The 30-year-old veteran won the job despite a rough final audition — Watson completed five of 12 passes for 35 yards with one interception across four second-half drives in Saturday's preseason game.
"Took in the full body of work over the course of offseason to training camp, to the games, the joint practice, and ultimately felt like to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points," Monken said Monday. "That's really what it's about."
Monken also said the starting decision will not be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. That framing removes week-to-week pressure heading into Cleveland's road opener against Jacksonville in Week 1.
Saturday's game at Huntington Bank Field drew a sparse crowd. Watson heard loud boos when he took the field for the second half as his drives stalled. Sanders had started that game before Watson entered in the second half.
After the game, Watson addressed the crowd reaction. "I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance. It's a little bit more personal than that," Watson said.
Monken said Sunday that Watson's postgame remarks would not factor into the quarterback decision. He proved that Monday.
Watson opened his Monday news conference with a two-minute apology. "I thought I was going to get a little different response, but I think my emotions got the best of me. My comments wasn't intending to go at any of the fans around in the city, because there's been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me," he said.
He acknowledged the frustration the fan base carries. "I know the frustration. This organization has put a lot of investment in coming to get me back in '22, and things haven't been going the right direction that we thought it was. A lot of injuries, a lot of time off, and not putting the best football and my foot forward," Watson said.
Cleveland signed Watson following his 2022 trade from Houston with one of the largest fully guaranteed contracts in NFL history. The returns have not matched the investment — Watson has battled injuries repeatedly and the Browns have not competed at the level the front office envisioned when they acquired him.
Sanders now settles into a backup role. He gives Cleveland a credible alternative if Watson's performance or health forces Monken's hand during the regular season.
The Jacksonville game on the road gives Watson a chance to reset the narrative away from a Cleveland crowd that has shown it is out of patience.
