The Cleveland Browns enter training camp with one of the NFL’s most talked-about quarterback races for all kinds of reasons.
Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson continue to compete every day as both try to earn the starting job. Watson may hold the edge before camp fully ramps up, but the coaching staff has not locked in a clear No. 1 quarterback, leaving the competition wide open.
However, Sanders does not see the situation as a personal showdown.
Shedeur Sanders Reveals There Is No “Petty” Battle With Deshaun Watson
During training camp, Sanders spoke with Browns legend Bernie Kosar and explained the mindset inside the quarterback room. Instead of focusing on individual battles, Sanders underlined the fact that the whole team is focused on the collective future of the organization.
“I’m truly excited for this year and the attitude about everybody in the building,” Sanders said.
“We like the hard coaching. We like all that stuff because we know it’s coming from a place of wanting us to be great. Everybody’s goal is aligned here. That’s why we don’t have the petty quarterback battles internally. That’s not up to us. It’s up to whoever the coaches think, whoever puts their best foot forward.”
This is not the first time Sanders has addressed the quarterback battle. And he is clearly not happy with the narrative.
“I answered this question a thousand times,” he added. “We focus on ourselves and what we do and what we need to do to get better each and every day. So, that’s just what I care about.”
That outlook becomes even more impressive considering how Sanders reached this point.
The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback entered the 2025 NFL Draft with top-10 expectations before sliding all the way to the No. 144 pick.
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After arriving in Cleveland, he found himself behind veteran Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel on the Browns’ quarterback depth chart, making the climb even steeper. But after Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals and Gabriel suffered a concussion, Sanders stepped into the lineup and made the most of his chance. He guided the Dawg Pound to a 3-4 record in seven starts.
Sanders finished the last year with a PFN QB Impact Score of 63.0, the league’s second-lowest mark. He also threw for 1,400 yards while completing 56.6% of his passes with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
On the other hand, Deshaun Watson continues his comeback after an extended absence.
The veteran quarterback has not played since tearing his right Achilles tendon during the 2024 season. His recovery took another hit when he once again ruptured the tendon the following January, leading to another surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign.
Since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, Watson has appeared in only 19 games.
All things considered, the Browns still do not have a clear answer at quarterback. Sanders remains focused on development, while Watson works toward returning to full strength.
