This story has been updated with video, more information.
BEREA ― Todd Monken made two announcements about depth chart changes before the Browns’ 11th training camp practice. Neither one of them involved the starting quarterback.
Monken said Aug. 10 that both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders remained locked in a competition for the starting quarterback position. He also said he still hadn’t made a decision on who will start at the position when they open the preseason at the Chicago Bears Aug. 15.
There was a thinking, based partially on Monken’s own statements from Aug. 8, that a decision on that was coming today. Instead, the only position moves he confirmed prior to practice were Spencer Fano moving up to the No. 1 spot at left tackle and Denzel Boston getting more reps with the first wide receiver group.
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“I have not,” Monken said Aug. 10. “I anticipate the next couple of days, I’m going through, they’re each going to start a game. How do I want it, that’s something we’re working through. They’re each going to start a game. We’re going to go through this week, and next week we’ll have to decide when we practice against the (Buffalo) Bills, because you’re not going to give just one practice, you’re not going to give one of the quarterbacks the ones, you’re going to have to rotate those guys some in the preseason practices. After those two games, I think we’ll be closer to having a better idea. One’s going to start one game, the other one will start the other.”
Monken said Sanders will get the reps with the No. 1s today, with Watson getting those on Aug 11. Sanders will then get the No. 1 reps again on Aug. 12, the day before the Browns leave for Chicago.
Of course, what Monken said and what the Browns did on the practice field on Aug. 8 is another reason why many expected a definitive decision. After stating 45 minutes before practice that all of the No. 1 reps, save for a 7-on-7 series or two, would be going to Sanders, Watson was the one who ended up taking all of those reps.
“It really was that Shedeur took the ones in walkthough Saturday, so I anticipated him being with the ones,” Monken said. “When I walked out, the guys grabbed me and said, ‘hey, the last couple days we’ve been looking at it and Shedeur’s got a few more reps with the ones’, that’s all it was. I wasn’t even at the moment, I was like ‘yeah, sure we’ll flip it and then next week we’ll go the other way.” I sure as hell wasn’t thinking about coming back in here to tell you guys, I was changing my mind, because I really don’t have to. Being the head coach, I can do that.
“Ultimately, Shedeur is going with the ones today, unless on the way out I change my mind, and then he won’t. It’s just like any other player in terms of how we rotate them. The bottom line is, the speculation, which I find kind of funny, is that as long as we’re still sharing reps, it’s a competition. It would not make any sense, that’s what we’re doing with Spencer and upping Denzel’s reps. I promise you I’ll tell you when I know what we’re doing, you’ll know. So as far as I know, Shedeur is going with the ones today, then Deshaun (Watson) the next day, and Shedeur will get Wednesday with the pads on.”
The added reason why Watson seemed like he was trending toward an announcement early in the week was because of the way he was performing. The veteran had started to stack up good practices after about a week’s worth of shaky looks on the field.
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The first of those came on Aug. 5, although much of it was on red zone work. However, an Aug. 7 practice indoors and one the next day outdoors was too much to igore from Watson.
“Sometimes it’s a lot of things, taking more risks, poor decision, protection, and then he’s trying to move and make a throw,” Monken said of Watson’s turnaround. “That’s true with all the quarterbacks. But that’s part of the learning process, I wouldn’t say taking chances but learning from the throws and the decisions you make on an everyday basis.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Todd Monken states Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders still in competition
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
