A 'pretty balanced' Browns QB race, and the next audition belongs to Shedeur Sanders

CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson made the most of his opportunity this past week to show he should be the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback when the season opens on Sept. 13 in Jacksonville.

The upcoming week will be Shedeur Sanders’ turn.

“I did feel going into last game that it was relatively close in terms of both having an opportunity at the starting position, so it would be unfair to not go into the next game and give Shedeur that same opportunity," coach Todd Monken said Sunday.

"Albeit a different team, certainly at home. There’s no guarantee the same players will be playing in this game, but it’s the closest you have, and we owe it to both players, who have handled it well and competed at a high level.”

Sanders will start and play the first half of Saturday’s game against Buffalo, as well as take snaps with the first team on Monday and Wednesday. Watson will be with the first unit on Tuesday and play the third quarter.

Both quarterbacks will take snaps with the starters during Thursday’s joint workout with the Bills. Monken said the snaps that both players are getting are “pretty balanced at this point, within reason.”

Watson played six series in a 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. He led the Browns to a field goal and touchdown on the second and third drives, completing 8 of 9 passes for 102 yards.

The 10-year veteran was 3 of 6 for 24 yards on his last three series, including 0 for 2 during a two-minute drill late in the first half. Watson also had more consistent pressure in the pocket with the Browns taking out their starting offensive line after two series.

However, for his first playing time in 22 months, Watson had a solid 98.2 passer rating while going 11 of 15 for 126 yards.

“It was good to be able to move around, run around, and be in live action, other guys trying to hit me and be confident with it. So the work has definitely been put in,” Watson said after Saturday’s game.

Sanders went 6 of 11 for 79 yards with an interception and a 39.6 passer rating in three possessions.

Sanders, who started the final seven games last season, had a 24-yard completion to Gage Larvadain on his first snap and later found Luke Floriea for a 35-yard gain to the Bears 14.

Cleveland didn’t get points, though, when Ahmani Marshall was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the 5.

Sanders' worst throw was on the third series, when a pass intended for Malachi Corley was overthrown and picked off by Beanie Bishop Jr. at the Bears 30 and returned 34 yards into Cleveland territory.

“I just didn’t execute, but the right decision was made,” Sanders said after the game. “Turning the ball over and all that stuff is not great, and you won’t survive a long time in the league doing that. But as long as my eyes, feet, and everything were in the right place, being able to execute it, it just may happen.”

Monken hopes Sanders can continue to bounce back this week, as he has throughout the offseason workouts.

“He’s improved so much. I mean he really has in terms of climbing the pocket and working through his progressions,” Monken said. “Even on the one he threw to 81 (Luke Floriea) in the slot, like he drifted too deep. We caught him in the blitz, but they weren’t even close. He created some of his own pressure.”

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) speaks in a press conference after a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken speaks in a press conference after a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) speaks in a press conference after a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before a an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Aug. 15, 2026 (AP Photo/David Banks, File)

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Pakistan fielded a new-look team but the same old problems resurfaced as it plunged to 100-7 at lunch after being put into bat by England in the third and final cricket test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

The touring team, which caused a major surprise by sending seven players home after its second-test defeat at Lord's, plus the head coach and the bowling coach, made four changes to the side but the batters were all at sea yet again.

England claimed a first breakthrough when the recalled Saim Ayub was trapped lbw for a duck to give quick bowler Ollie Robinson his 100th test wicket.

Jofra Archer then forced Azan Awais into offering mid-on fielder Josh Tongue a low, diving catch off a leading edge.

Abdullah Shafique was next to go, caught low down by Dan Lawrence at third slip off Robinson.

Shan Masood became the fourth wicket to fall when he lobbed the ball to mid-wicket off fast bowler Archer following a poor cross-bat stroke.

Fellow paceman Tongue then removed Pakistan captain Babar Azam before dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori and Imran Randhawa, lbw and clean bowled respectively.

Saud Shakeel, who made a fighting 97 in a losing cause at Lord's, was the one shining light for Pakistan as he reached lunch on 37 not out. Razaullah Khan, another debutant, was unbeaten on 11.

England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after beating Pakistan by 194 runs at Lord's.

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

England's Josh Tongue appeals unsuccessfully, during day one of the third cricket test match between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Jofra Archer, left, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Azan Awais, during day one of the third cricket test match between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Pakistan's Azan Awais walks off the pitch, after being dismissed by England's Jofra Archer, during day one of the third cricket test match between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Ollie Robinson celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique, caught out by Dan Lawrence, during day one of the third cricket test match between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Josh Tongue, right, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Ghazi Ghori, during day one of the third cricket test match between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Ollie Robinson appeals, during day one of the third cricket test match between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)