BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns were expected to name the Browns starting quarterback on Monday and per usual, national NFL outlets were the first to report the move. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN and multiple reports, Browns coach Todd Monken is set to announce that Deshaun Watson will be the team's starting quarterback when the Browns take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13.
Just in: Deshaun Watson has been named Cleveland’s starting quarterback for week 1 at Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/34BNUahkXs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2026
The Browns have held an open competition between Watsonn and Shedeur Sanders since the OTAs began in the offseason program Monken said that his decision is about who will give the Browns the best chance to beat the Jaguars in Week One.
"I think even with (the Bills game), we have to take in the full body of work," Monken said. "That's just one opportunity that they had on the field, both of them, just like the week before was an opportunity, just like the practices against the Bills were an opportunity to showcase their ability and other's ability and where they're at at this point and where we're at as an offense. So, I don't look at it that way. I look at what has been the full body of work, and then ultimately, who gives us the best chance to win week one."
Monken said the quarterback that he chooses to start is who he thinks will give the Browns the best chance to win to start the season.
"Our job is to put the best product and the best players on the field that we feel like give us the best chance to move the football, score points, and win games," he said. "So ultimately, that's what I look at, irrespective of outside noise. I don't worry about that."
Sanders started and played the first half in the loss to the Bills and was 9-of-11 for 74 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His QB rating was 87.1. Watson played the third quarter and into the fourth quarter. Watson was just 5-of-12 for 36 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. His QB rating was 14.6.
Watson was booed on several occasions in his first home game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in October 2024, an injury for which he underwent two surgeries and missed all of the 2025 season. After the game, in the post game press conference Watson ripped Browns fans and brought up when he was injured almost two years ago.
"The whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said after the game. "It's a little bit (more) personal than that. So I think it's a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I'm going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on.
"Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt," Watson also said. "So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?"
Monken was asked on Sunday if Watson's comments would affect the decision at starting quarterback.
"It does not."
The Browns open the season with two road games in Florida, with the Jaguars and the Buccaneers. The Browns first home game is Week 3, on Sept. 27 against the Panthers. Monken said he is not worried about that game when asked about the reception Watson could get in the home opener.
"I'll go backwards then forwards," he said. "I'm not concerned about the first home game. I'm concerned about who will give us the best chance to win the first week. We'll get to that when we get to it. My reaction was, a young man who has worked awfully hard to get back to where he is now, and he wants to, in the worst way, to play winning football for the Browns organization and the fans.
"It didn't go as we had hoped or as he did, I'm sure," he said. "I think we have to be a little careful of judging someone right after he goes out to play, feeling like he's put in the work, and then to not perform as well as he wanted. We all want to be appreciated. He spoke from the heart, and I don't ever blame someone that speaks from the heart.
"If someone were to ask if I feel like he doesn't have confidence, I don't see that," he said. "Every day I see a young man who has confidence, and he wanted to perform in the worst way at a high level."
Monken has said that the starters will not play in the final preseason on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field, so Watson will not be subject to playing before the home crowd until at least Sept. 27.
More to come after Monken speaks to the media around noon...