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By nan clip nan NFL play begins, Deshaun Watson will not person taken a threat successful astir 2 years.
Since rupturing his Achilles, nan Cleveland Browns person drafted 3 quarterbacks, including Shedeur Sanders, who took nan reins to adjacent nan 2025 play aft Dillon Gabriel, who started aft Joe Flacco was traded, suffered a concussion.
However, Cleveland.com reported Wednesday that Watson still has nan "inside track" to beryllium named nan Browns' Week 1 starter, citing sources.
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Deshaun Watson of nan Cleveland Browns looks to walk during a voluntary seasoned minicamp astatine CrossCountry Mortgage Campus successful Berea, Ohio, connected April 21, 2026. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
On nan first time of nan team's minicamp, Sanders was group to get much reps pinch nan first team, but Watson coiled up getting more. On time two, Watson was nan first backmost to get first-team reps and again had nan astir of anyone.
Gabriel, nan outlet said, did not get any, and Watson "had earned nan QB1 snaps by looking nan portion of a starting quarterback."
Despite drafting Gabriel successful nan 3rd information past twelvemonth and Sanders successful nan fifth, Cleveland added 1 much backmost to its crowded room past week successful Arkansas' Taylen Green.
Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson of nan Cleveland Browns watch from nan sidelines during a crippled against nan Cincinnati Bengals astatine Huntington Bank Field successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Sept. 7, 2025. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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It is simply a young Browns roster, arsenic it appears their 3 main playmakers are either successful their first aliases 2nd seasons (running backmost Quinshon Judkins is entering twelvemonth two, while nan Browns drafted wide receivers astatine 24 and 39). The Browns besides went violative statement pinch nan ninth pick. So, arsenic Cleveland.com mentioned, nan seasoned successful Watson whitethorn beryllium amended equipped for those types of surroundings.
However, he is entering nan past twelvemonth of his $230 cardinal statement that nan beforehand agency has admitted was a "swing and a miss."
Quarterback play for Cleveland was mediocre passim nan play nary matter who was taking snaps, ranking 31st successful completion percent (57.89%) and passing yards per crippled (165.1). Sanders' 3 wins arsenic a starter were much than Gabriel and Flacco combined, but his 56.6 completion percent was nan lowest, arsenic was his 4.7 interception percentage, keeping nan quarterback title open.
Shedeur Sanders watches arsenic Deshaun Watson runs a drill during a voluntary seasoned minicamp astatine CrossCountry Mortgage Campus successful Berea, Ohio, connected April 21, 2026. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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Since Watson was acquired up of nan 2021 season, he has played successful 19 of a imaginable 85 games, throwing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while facing injuries and a suspension amid sexual assault allegations.
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