ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter doesn’t think Deshaun Watson is solidly the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns are moving forward with Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback. But that doesn’t mean Shedeur Sanders won’t end up starting for Cleveland — and soon.
Although the Browns named Watson as the starter today, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ that he would not be surprised if Sanders ended up starting more games for the Browns in 2026 than Watson, who is coming off back-to-back Achilles tendon tears and, most recently, a disastrous press conference.
“It has always felt like it was trending towards Deshaun Watson [starting] as a veteran with two games on the road to start the season at Jacksonville, Tampa,” Schefter said. “Now again, even with Saturday’s events, where Deshaun Watson did not play well, where he talked about how the fans were disrespectful, he didn’t appreciate the boos, and his postgame press conference, which obviously did not play over well anywhere.
“You have a situation where basically, it always felt like it was trending towards the veteran. And when they named Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback, they name him for now. I think that’s the key point to raise here. Is Deshaun Watson going to wind up starting more games than Shador Sanders this season? I’m skeptical of that. It’s up to him and how he performs in the first two games. If he plays well the first two weeks on the road, he’ll continue to be the quarterback. If not, I believe there’s a realistic chance that for their home opener, Shedeur Sanders is the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.”
“It has always felt like it was trending towards Deshaun Watson as a veteran starting the season for the Browns..
He’s the starting quarterback for now..
Is he gonna start more games Shedeur Sanders this season.. I’m skeptical of that”@AdamSchefter #PMSLive https://t.co/SMWcqYtDHh pic.twitter.com/GNmauGbZPD
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 24, 2026
Watson, who has been a shell of himself since being accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women and subsequently being traded to the Browns and suspended by the NFL, went 5-for-12 for 35 yards and an interception in Cleveland’s second preseason game over the weekend. That, plus the boos he received from the home fans, preceded comments in which Watson, who has since apologized, claimed the negative reaction had “nothing to do about the performance” and was instead “personal” and “a disrespectful thing.”
Watson has played far below expectations since being acquired by the Browns, with whom he has played 19 games in four seasons. Due to injuries and suspension, he has failed to play more than seven games in any given year since 2020.
Sanders, a fifth-round draft pick from a year ago, played eight games and started seven as a rookie. He finished the season with 1,400 yards, 8 total touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The Cleveland Browns are moving forward with Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback. But that doesn’t mean Shedeur Sanders won’t end up starting for Cleveland — and soon.
