Cleveland’s quarterback battle has been the story of the offseason, and it didn’t take long for training camp to add fuel to the fire.
Opening drills at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Tuesday saw Deshaun Watson take every first-time rep before throwing interceptions on back-to-back plays. Denzel Ward, fresh off a two-year, $62.2 million contract extension, came down with the first one, and Damarri Mathis hauled in the other.
Where Deshaun Watson Vs. Shedeur Sanders Battle Stands in Browns’ Training Camp
Browns head coach Todd Monken broke down both interceptions to the media, noting Ward made a good play on the first while Watson released the ball late on a dig route on the second.
“It was a great play more by Ward than to me a poor decision. I was standing right behind Deshaun. I would have made the throw… the second one was a dig where he was late,” Monken noted.
Todd Monken said Shedeur Sanders will lead the starting offense tomorrow, as expected.
Today’s practice was focused on quick game and third-and-medium, so they could get a lot of work in the shorter 90-minute session on Day 1
On Deshaun Watson’s back-to-back INTs: “It was a… https://t.co/7Cdsf3TkNn
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 29, 2026
Shedeur Sanders, though, made the most of his practice reps, completing 16/19 passes without a turnover, according to the unofficial count by ESPN Cleveland. Watson, on the other hand, finished 12/22 with the two interceptions.
DAY 1 OF BROWNS TRAINING CAMP IS A WRAP!
Here’s how each QB performed in 7/7 and 11/11 drills. Deshaun Watson took all the 1st team reps today. pic.twitter.com/UlSJczBTw3
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 29, 2026
These performances are exactly what Monken said he would watch while sorting out the competition. He has openly made it clear how the decision would be made, stating that workload will tell the clearest story.
The quarterback who begins taking more reps with the starters and less rotation will trend toward the top spot. For now, Watson and Sanders keep trading days with the first team, a rotation Monken has held since spring when the two split time evenly.
The stakes are high for both signal-callers. Watson, who is entering the final year of his infamous five-year, $230 million contract, is aiming to show that he has moved past the Achilles injury. He has played just 19 games since being acquired by Cleveland in 2022, recording 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
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Meanwhile, Sanders is looking to reclaim the starting job he held during the 2025 season after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion.
Sanders closed the year with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions across seven starts, and now wants to prove he can be a long-term answer under center. With the preseason opener still weeks away, both quarterbacks have several practices ahead to build their case.
