Jerry Jeudy has stirred up drama as another Cleveland Browns quarterback battle brews ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
This year’s chapter features veteran Deshaun Watson returning from a torn right Achilles tendon to compete against sophomore Shedeur Sanders.
Jerry Jeudy Seemingly Supports Deshaun Watson Over Shedeur Sanders
While the competition is ongoing, it seems like the Browns’ top wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy, may already have a preference on who’s throwing him the ball to start this season.
While TikTok Live, a fan asked Jeudy who he wants to start at quarterback and Jerry threw up four fingers several times, seemingly showing his allegiance to Watson (who wears No. 4).
Someone asked Jerry Jeudy on Tik Tok who he wants the Browns starting QB to be 👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/dLHykNWv3o
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 26, 2026
UPDATE: Jeudy responded after this tweet started gaining traction: “Lmao yall just be lying so much for what ?? … I don’t speak on decisions that aren’t mine to make. I support my teammates/Brothers, I do my job, and control what I can control. Let’s stop creating narrative that aren’t there for likes and clicks. I bet this won’t go viral because it’s too positive/real for y’all đź’Ż.”
Watson presents the most experienced option, as a three-time Pro Bowl selection from 2018 to 2020. He led the NFL in passing in 2020, though his most successful days are long behind him.
Since joining the Browns in 2022, he’s played in just 19 games due to injuries. However, even when he’s been healthy, he looked nothing like the star he was with the Houston Texans. In 2024, he ranked 40th out of 40 eligible quarterbacks in PFN’s QB Impact Score with a 59.9 grade (no other QB graded below 63.9).
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Expectations were sky-high for Watson after the Browns signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract amid his legal issues. When factoring in that the Browns also sent major draft assets to Houston, including three first-round picks, his tenure has been a major disappointment.
In 2024, Watson suffered a ruptured Achilles and then re-ruptured his Achilles in January 2025. Now, he is finally fully healthy and trying to win the Browns’ starting job.
Watson’s biggest competition is Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick who did the best he could last season with an awful offensive line and mediocre weapons.
He started seven games last year following the trade of Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel’s injury and benching, winning games against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals.
In eight total appearances, he threw for 1,400 yards and 7 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions, posting a QB Impact Grade of 63.0, which ranked 37th among 38 eligible QBs (behind only Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward). With an upgraded offensive corps, Sanders has a chance of developing into a consistent starter.
While there’s a case to be made for both Watson and Sanders, it’ll ultimately be up to new head coach Todd Monken to decide which signal-caller starts the season under center.
