Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are duking it out in the Cleveland Browns’ training camp ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The latest session has seen intriguing results between the two quarterbacks.
Sanders is gearing up for the sophomore campaign of his career while Watson prepares for Year 10 of his time in the league, marking his fifth with the Browns. Cleveland finds itself in a curious predicament with Sanders’ ceiling as a quarterback while dealing with Watson’s injuries and inconsistent play.
This has resulted in noise regarding the team’s quarterback battle with both players fully healthy for training camp. Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green also participated in team drills alongside the two frontrunners for the starting job, summing up all the sessions.
Cleveland concluded its latest session on Friday, having Watson take all the reps with the first team. He completed 18 passes out of 27 attempts but threw an interception. On the other hand, Sanders was successful on 21 of his 26 passes.
DAY 3 OF BROWNS TRAINING CAMP IS A WRAP! Here’s how all the QBs performed in team drills (7v7 and 11v11). Deshaun Watson took all the 1st team reps. pic.twitter.com/cVWwUbEqG5
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 31, 2026
What lies ahead for Shedeur Sanders, Browns
The Browns seem to be leaning towards having Deshaun Watson as the starter. However, Shedeur Sanders will continue to have eyes on him if the opportunity arises for him once again like it did last season.
Sanders showcased flashes of what he can bring to the table for Cleveland. He made eight appearances that included seven starts, completing 120 passes for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also recorded up to 21 rushes for 169 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Injuries have ravaged Watson’s stint with Cleveland, going 9-10 in his starts throughout three seasons. The 2024 campaign saw him complete 137 passes for 1,148 yards and five touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Browns will attempt to improve on their 5-12 record from 2025. They also intend to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, and end their 33-season division title drought, having last won the then-AFC Central in 1989.
Cleveland will have the first two games of its 2026 campaign start on the road. They take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET.
Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are duking it out in the Cleveland Browns’ training camp ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The latest session has seen intriguing results between the two quarterbacks. Sanders is gearing up for the sophomore campaign of his career while Watson prepares for Year 10 of his time in the league, marking his fifth with the Browns.
