Cleveland Browns QB battle heats up as Shedeur Sanders narrows gap with Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns are entering training camp with a close quarterback competition between veteran Deshaun Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders. Watson, who missed the 2025 season while recovering from right‑Achilles surgery, returns as the preseason favorite, but his recent minicamp performance has been described as inconsistent.

Sanders, who started seven games as a rookie and posted a 3‑4 record, showed increased confidence and accuracy in offseason drills, prompting coaches to take notice. Both players are considered neck‑and‑neck heading into preseason, and the battle is expected to continue through training camp and early regular‑season games.