RADIO
Dillon Gabriel Set to Make Browns' 53-Man Roster
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel is set to make the team's initial 53-man roster heading into the regular-season opener on Sept. 13, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. After a strong training camp and preseason this summer, Gabriel has earned the QB3 role entering his second NFL season behind starter Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. After the Browns took the 25-year-old in the third round (94th overall) out of Oregon last April, he threw for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first 10 NFL games (six starts) before an injury opened the door for Sanders to close out the year as the Browns' starter. Cleveland could end up keeping four QBs on their initial roster, with the Browns hoping to keep rookie Taylen Green around because of his rushing upside. While Gabriel has looked good this summer, he struggled to do much down the field as a rookie, and his dynasty/keeper upside remains minimal.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Browns Want to Keep Rookie QB Taylen Green on the Roster
The Cleveland Browns would like to keep rookie sixth-round quarterback Taylen Green on their 53-man roster on Sunday if they can find a way to do it, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. It looks like the Browns could be keeping four signal-callers on their initial 53-man roster after all under new head coach Todd Monken. Green would be the team's QB4 behind starter Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. The 23-year-old from Arkansas needs some development as a passer, but it is clear that the Browns are intrigued by his ability to scramble and pick up chunk gains with his legs. Gabriel solidified his spot as the Browns' QB3 with a strong preseason showing after he was taken two rounds ahead of Sanders in the 2025 NFL draft. If Green can develop as a passer this year, he could have a future in Cleveland. In fantasy, he is merely a bench stash in deep dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Todd Monken Non-Committal on Keeping Four QBs on Roster
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken was non-committal after Thursday night's preseason finale against the New England Patriots about keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster entering Week 1 of the regular season after Dillon Gabriel threw three first-half touchdowns in a 37-13 win, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The Browns sat both starter Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders on Thursday against the Patriots. Gabriel, a third-rounder last year who was taken two rounds before Sanders, went 12-for-15 passing for 186 yards and his three TDs in the first half. Despite Gabriel's strong game and training camp, Monken would not commit to keeping Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green on the initial 53-man roster. "I'm not going to get into that now," Monken said. "[General manager] Andrew [Berry] and I haven't had a chance to really talk about that." Gabriel started six games in 2025 as a rookie before suffering a concussion in Week 11 that led to Sanders starting the final seven contests. Monken said Gabriel's performance on Thursday does not change his plan for his starting QB or the backup.
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Dillon Gabriel Solidifies Himself as QB3 with Big Night
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 12 of 15 pass attempts for 186 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's preseason win over the New England Patriots. He also rushed for three yards and didn't take a sack. It's worth noting that Gabriel was playing against a bunch of defensive reserves, but it was still a very encouraging showing nonetheless. This performance comes on the heels of the Browns naming Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders. Gabriel never had a legitimate chance to earn the starting job, but today's game essentially confirms that he's locked into the No. 3 quarterback role and won't lose his roster spot to Taylen Green, a sixth-round pick out of Alabama. Gabriel's path to playing time in Cleveland faces plenty of obstacles, but the Browns should feel confident in his ability to step into the offense at any time if needed. He's off the fantasy radar entirely, though.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shedeur Sanders to Begin His Second Season as Browns' Backup
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders famously fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he found the field for seven starts as a rookie and was eventually named a Pro Bowl alternate. He spent his second training camp in a battle with veteran Deshaun Watson, and on Monday, head coach Todd Monken named Watson as the starter, with NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reporting that Sanders will serve as his backup. Sanders looked sharp to start Saturday's preseason game against the Bills, but threw a late interception with the inconsistency that has plagued him throughout camp creeping into a live game scenario. While Watson did not perform any better on Saturday, completing only 41.7% of his passes and throwing an interception of his own, he showed enough throughout camp to win a battle with no obvious separator. Sanders has been drafted as the consensus QB29 throughout fantasy draft season, but Monday's news is certain to push him off of draft boards.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Browns Naming Deshaun Watson as Starting Quarterback
The Cleveland Browns have named veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson as their starter for the 2026 season, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz. Watson battled second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders throughout training camp and two-up-and-down preseason games, and with neither able to take a clear grasp on the role, head coach Todd Monken's decision did not come until late August. Watson completed only five of 12 pass attempts in the team's second preseason game on Saturday, adding an interception to his lost fumble from preseason game one, but he showed enough in practice to earn the starting job in what will be his tenth professional season. A three-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans, Watson was acquired by the Browns in 2022, where he has gone 9-10 as a starter and most recently missed the entire 2025 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon for the second time. Watson is RotoBaller's QB32, and he will be backed up by Sanders.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Browns Expected to Settle Quarterback Competition Monday
The Cleveland Browns could have an answer at quarterback on Monday. Jeremy Fowler reports that the team currently expects to settle on its starter after using the first two preseason games to evaluate Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Watson got the first start and completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards against Chicago. Sanders started Saturday against Buffalo, throwing for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception while playing the first half. Watson followed him and finished with 35 yards and an interception. Cleveland intentionally gave both quarterbacks a preseason start, and Sanders also split first-team reps during Thursday's joint practice with Buffalo. Now the evaluation period appears to be nearing its end. Monday's decision will be especially important in Superflex leagues, where whichever quarterback wins the job immediately becomes a relevant fantasy option.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Deshaun Watson Criticizes Browns Fans in Postgame Press Conference
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson went 5-of-12 for 36 yards and an interception in the team's preseason loss to the Bills on Saturday, and the Cleveland faithful was not shy about assessing his performance with a chorus of boos. "I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said of the reaction. "It's a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it's a disrespectful thing." Head coach Todd Monken had said during a pre-game radio appearance that a decision on the starting quarterback situation could come early in the week, and Watson did not help his case through either his performance or his post-game media availability. "Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt," he said. "What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in your home stadium, and they cheer." While Shedeur Sanders got the start and came out strong, he threw another interception of his own, as neither player has been able to truly separate in their ongoing competition. Cleveland will have one final preseason matchup with the Patriots before kicking off the regular season against the Jaguars on September 13.
Source: Bryan DeArdo
Source: Bryan DeArdo
Shedeur Sanders Throws Touchdown Pass in Preseason Action on Saturday
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders put together a respectable performance in his team's second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, completing nine of 11 pass attempts for 74 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The 24-year-old is currently competing with veteran signal-caller Deshaun Watson to be Cleveland's Week 1 starting quarterback. Sanders was clearly the better of the two quarterbacks on Saturday, as Watson completed just five of 12 pass attempts for 36 yards. A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders completed 56.6% of his pass attempts for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across eight games (seven starts) as a rookie. While Sanders has more talent and offensive stability around him in 2026, he should likely remain off fantasy radars in all but the deepest of leagues even if he is named Cleveland's starter.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Browns Expected to Make a QB Decision Early Next Week
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is slated to start Saturday's preseason matchup against the Bills after struggling in relief of Deshaun Watson in the team's preseason-opening loss to the Bears, and a decision on the regular-season starter could come shortly after the game. "I do not anticipate the QB decision going past early next week," Monken said Saturday morning on a pre-game radio show. Both players are again expected to split work on Saturday, so their performances could be the final critical pieces of the decision. Both Watson and Sanders have been reported as having up-and-down camps, with that inconsistency bleeding into both their performances in the preseason opener, though Watson's final stat line while working with the first-team offense was still respectable. After Saturday's matchup with the Bills, Cleveland will have one final preseason tune-up against the Patriots before kicking off the regular season against the Jaguars on September 13.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Shedeur Sanders Not Feeling the Pressure in Browns' QB Battle
Cleveland Browns second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders said on Wednesday that he's not feeling pressure ahead of a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday and his start in the team's second preseason game at home on Saturday against the Bills, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Head coach Todd Monken has not revealed a timeline for naming a starter at the QB position between Sanders and Deshaun Watson, but he said he might use the preseason finale against the New England Patriots as a dress rehearsal. It leaves this week's practices and Saturday's game as the final chances for Sanders to leave an impression on the new head coach. "I don't really feel anxiety or any pressure going into things like that anymore, because that's how I approach everything. So, it's just another day of going to work. That's all it is for me," Sanders said. The son of former NFL star cornerback Deion Sanders, Shedeur threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games (seven starts) as a rookie after falling all the way to the fifth round in last year's NFL draft. If the 24-year-old wins the job over Watson, he'll become a low-end QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues with a short leash if he struggles.
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Shedeur Sanders Tosses Interception Late in Preseason Opener vs. Bears
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders had mixed results in Saturday's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears but his performance was marred by a fourth-quarter interception. Deshaun Watson, Sanders' main competition for the starting quarterback job, led the Browns on their two scoring drives in the team's 34-10 loss to Chicago. Meanwhile, Sanders was 6-of-11 passing for 79 yards. He added two rushes for three yards, playing most of the third quarter and early in the fourth. Sanders completed a 24-yard pass to Gage Larvadain and hit Luke Floriea on a 35-yard strike. Sanders will continue to compete with Watson for the starting quarterback job.
Source: Cleveland Browns
Source: Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson Functions at a "High Level" in Preseason Opener
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken was pleased with quarterback Deshaun Watson's performance in the team's preseason opener on Saturday in the 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, saying that he functioned at a "high level," per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Monken said the QB competition between Watson and second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders will continue for at least another week, and Jackson writes that "it's hard to imagine much changed Saturday in what was a predictably uneven first performance in a game setting for both QBs." The 30-year-old Watson went 11-for-15 passing for 126 yards, adding four rushing yards on three carries while losing a fumble. It was Watson's first game action since October of 2024 due to a torn right Achilles tendon. Almost all of Watson's yardage on Saturday came on short throws, and his most impressive work came while converting a first-and-25 with three straight completions. Sanders finished his outing going 6-for-11 passing for 79 yards and an interception. If Watson is solid in joint practices with the Buffalo Bills this week and in the second preseason game, he could be named the starter by Monken.
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Deshaun Watson Sharp in Season Debut
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looked sharp under center during Saturday's preseason matchup against the Chicago Bears. The veteran quarterback got the first chance to start and made the most of his opportunity. Watson completed 11-of-15 passing attempts for 126 yards during the 34-10 defeat. He played the entire first half and led his team to its only two scoring drives of the game. Watson did lose a fumble on a sack in Chicago territory, but it was mostly a solid day for Watson. Both Watson and Shedeur Sanders should continue to compete for the starting gig throughout the preseason. Watson outplayed Sanders in the first preseason game, but there are still two more to go
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Shedeur Sanders Will Start in Browns' Second Preseason Game
ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reports that Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will start in Thursday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Todd Monken announced that Deshaun Watson and Sanders will split first-team reps during joint practices with the Bills. Additionally, Monken plans to let Sanders play the first half with Watson playing the third quarter, and Dillon Gabriel playing the fourth quarter. Watson looked sharp in his preseason start by completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. In Sanders' limited action, he completed six of 11 passes for 79 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. The two remain in a close competition for the starting job that has a chance to be decided after the second preseason game.
Source: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
