Deshaun Watson finds footing as Browns settle QB debate
The Deshaun Watson Cleveland Browns quarterback situation has taken a clear turn. Cleveland is sticking with Watson as starter after a 2-1 start in 2026. ESPN sources say he has not locked in the long-term job, but early wins shifted the focus to short-term momentum instead of a week-to-week QB rotation.
Key Takeaways
- The Browns are sticking with Deshaun Watson as starter after opening 2-1.
- Team sources told ESPN Watson has not proven he is the long-term answer, but early wins changed the in-house conversation.
- Watson has completed 68.3% of his passes for 587 yards, five touchdowns, one interception and 105 rushing yards in three games.
- Shedeur Sanders remains the backup for Thursday night against Pittsburgh; Dillon Gabriel is on IR.
- Cleveland has no reported plans to trade Sanders or Gabriel by the Nov. 10 deadline.
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Why are the Browns sticking with Deshaun Watson right now?
After a season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson led Cleveland to back-to-back wins at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and against the Carolina Panthers. That stretch marked his first consecutive wins with the Browns since 2023.
According to an ESPN report by Daniel Oyefusi, Watson's ability to move past negative plays and stretches rather than compounding them has stood out to team sources. That composure, paired with the club's surprising start, has cooled talk of an immediate change.
Watson is playing the final year of the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal he signed in 2022. He returned after tearing his Achilles tendon in 2024 and won the Week 1 job over Shedeur Sanders in training camp.
Did Cleveland almost go week-to-week at quarterback?
Yes. ESPN's Ian Rapoport reported after the Jaguars loss that the Browns planned to re-evaluate the QB1 spot after Week 2. Watson stayed in for Week 3, and after that win Rapoport said Cleveland no longer wanted to handle the position on a week-to-week basis.
The shift matters because the Browns still view Watson's long-term fit as unsettled. Oyefusi's reporting made clear his three-game sample has not convinced the building he is the lasting answer. The near-term priority is momentum while the team sits at 2-1.
Where does Shedeur Sanders fit in the Browns' plans?
Sanders remains in Cleveland and is slated to back up Watson on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dillon Gabriel is on injured reserve with a back injury, so Sanders is the clear No. 2 for now.
Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reported the Browns have no plans to trade Sanders or Gabriel by the Nov. 10 deadline. With Watson's contract expiring, Sanders' presence keeps a young option in the pipeline even as Watson holds the starting job.
Elsewhere on the debate circuit, an ESPN segment framed why Deshaun Watson intrigues Stephen A. Smith more than Aaron Rodgers — another sign the veteran's early play is drawing national attention again.
Thursday's Steelers matchup is the next test of whether short-term footing can turn into a lasting hold on the Cleveland job.