Shedeur Sanders Set to Start Preseason Game and Take First-Team Reps in Browns QB Battle

PUBLISHED Aug 19, 2026, 8:05 PM ET

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has officially named Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback for the team’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. This assignment follows Sanders’ appearance in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, where he completed six of eleven passes for 79 yards and one interception. While veteran Deshaun Watson remains a primary competitor for the starting role, Monken continues to split first-team practice repetitions between the two signal-callers. Sanders expressed focus on execution rather than external pressure, viewing the upcoming joint practices with Buffalo as a critical opportunity to demonstrate his readiness. The franchise is evaluating both players to determine the opening-day starter for the regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13. Coaches aim to finalize roster decisions following this week’s controlled scrimmage environments and subsequent preseason game performance, though analysts remain divided on the competition's current leader.

By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News

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Left: Focuses on systemic team dynamics and player opportunity fairness issues. Center: Reports factual coaching announcements and quarterback competition statistics reported objectively. Right: Emphasizes individual athletic merit, traditional performance metrics, and competitive drive.