As he completes a return from his Achilles injury, Deshaun Watson is set to rival Shedeur Sanders for the right to serve as the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback in 2026
19:15 ET, 08 May 2026
Shedeur Sanders is hoping to prove himself and retain his starting role following a solid rookie campaign
View 2 Images
Shedeur Sanders is hoping to prove himself and retain his starting role following a solid rookie campaign(Image: Getty Images)
Shedeur Sanders took to social media to post a cryptic message as he looks to beat out Deshaun Watson to be the Cleveland Browns’ starter in 2026.
After being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders started the 2025 season as Cleveland’s fourth-string quarterback, sitting behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. He eventually got his opportunity when both veterans got traded, and Gabriel went down with a concussion.
Sanders showed flashes of his potential down the stretch of his rookie season, tallying a 3-4 record as the Browns floundered to a 5-12 finish. Then-Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t trust him early and has since found himself out of a job, replaced by Todd Monken.
Article continues below
READ MORE: Livid LeBron James erupts at referee as he's mauled by OKC star and limps off courtREAD MORE: Dianna Russini's husband suffers professional setback amid Mike Vrabel scandal
Ultimately, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns with 10 interceptions, and even earned a Pro Bowl berth — although this was likely a choice made based on popularity rather than performance. Entering 2026, he will have to beat out Watson in a Browns quarterback room that has been ranked the worst in the league.
Ahead of the battle with Watson, Sanders put up an Instagram Story by re-posting another post from his alternate account, which featured text that read: “Think about a person’s opinion... in the grand scheme of life, it means nothing. We often give opinions power when we react to them and make them seem valuable.
“Why expect anything different from a modern culture that doesn’t keep GOD at the forefront of daily actions? Those who move through life with foul intentions will eventually face the consequences of their ways. The people who truly align with you will understand this perspective.
“In the end, as long as you’re walking in your purpose, GOD should be the only one you seek to please.”
Sign up to our NFL newsletter here
Deshaun Watson is hoping to start for the Browns in 2026 after missing last season due to his Achilles injury
View 2 Images
Deshaun Watson is hoping to start for the Browns in 2026 after missing last season due to his Achilles injury(Image: Getty Images)
Sanders appears focused on his own career and time with the Browns, while Watson’s time in Cleveland has been more turbulent than that of his younger teammate. Back in 2022, he was traded to the Browns in exchange for three first-round picks after impressing as the quarterback of the Houston Texans.
After arriving in Cleveland, he signed a fully guaranteed five-year contract worth $230 million — one of the largest contracts in NFL history — and the 30-year-old failed to live up to the billing. After facing over two dozen allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual assault, Watson didn’t play in 2021 following an 11-game suspension, then largely struggled on the field.
Watson had led the Browns to a paltry 1-5 record as the passing attack floundered; he threw for just 1,148 yards and five touchdowns while posting a dismal 22.4 quarterback rating. He then went down with an Achilles tear, missing the entire 2025 season as a result.
Article continues below
But with Watson back, Sanders faces serious competition to start for Monken’s Browns in 2026. Training camp runs from July 25 to August 4 at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio.