Browns running back Quinshon Judkins would downplay any concerns about the quarterback battle being a distraction.
As the biggest storyline around the Cleveland Browns is the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, it has yet to be announced who will start under center for Week 1 on Sept. 13. While rumors will surround who has the step up in the Browns’ quarterback competition, this teammate would downplay the battle becoming a distraction.
Whoever starts between Watson and Sanders, they’ll have running back Quinshon Judkins as a major target in the offense, as he would give his own thoughts on the quarterback battle. Judkins would minimize the competition impacting the team negatively, saying that Watson and Sanders “have each other’s back,” along with the rest of the team.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction just because, you know, we have a great head coach, Coach Monken keeps us focused on things that matter,” Judkins said, according to Mary Kay Cabot. “You know, it goes back to the team. That’s what’s most important. At the end of the day, we go out there and compete at practice, and we have each other’s back.”
“So go in the quarterback room, each and every one of those guys, they support each other,” Judkins continued. “No matter who throws a pick or who throws a touchdown, they still act the same way. None of those guys change. So I think that’s what’s important. And I think, you know, there’s no distractions.”
#Browns Quinshon Judkins says the QB competition is not a distraction: pic.twitter.com/VHM8AiOamw
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 10, 2026
This Browns quarterback has the “leg up” on the other
In regard to who has the lead in the quarterback battle between Sanders and Watson, NFL insider Ian Rapoport would say that the latter “has the leg up.” Rapoport cites Watson’s familiarity with the offensive system in comparison to Sanders.
At any rate, it remains to be seen if the veteran in Watson starts coming off a pair of severe Achilles injuries, as he’s been out of action since October of 2024. On the other hand, Sanders enters his second season in the NFL after playing eight games, throwing for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Week 1 for Cleveland comes on Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As the biggest storyline around the Cleveland Browns is the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, it has yet to be announced who will start under center for Week 1 on Sept. 13. While rumors will surround who has the step up in the Browns’ quarterback competition, this teammate would downplay the battle becoming a distraction.
