‘I have my reasons’: Todd Monken explains starting quarteback decision

On August 11, 2026, Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken addressed the media to explain the reasoning behind his decision regarding the starting quarterback position. The Browns are preparing for their first season under Monken's leadership, and the quarterback controversy has been a constant topic throughout training camp. The primary contenders for the starting role are veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel also seeing more playing time recently.

While Monken may not have a final decision until the start of the regular season, he has already determined how he will handle the first two preseason games. Watson will take the starting position in the opener against the Chicago Bears on Saturday, while Sanders will make his debut in the following week's game against the Buffalo Bills.

"I have my reasons for how it’s going to go, and it’s still a competition," Monken stated. "We’re excited to watch guys practice today, let alone on Saturday, and then next week against Buffalo, and we’ll get a chance to see them both." Monken emphasized that the coaching staff will continue to assess the quarterbacks throughout the preseason, taking into account their performance and the opportunity each player received during the week.

Deshaun Watson expressed his enthusiasm about the opportunity to play in a game for the first time in over a year after recovering from multiple Achilles injuries. "I’m super excited," Watson said. "All the hard work that I put in with the training staff, with my team, my personal team, to get to this stage has been tremendous for me. So, I’m super excited for those opportunities and can’t wait for it."