With the Cleveland Browns, you never really know what to expect. That statement has been true across coaching staffs, front offices, and ownership, no matter who was in those roles. Throughout the offseason, including in training camp, the Browns quarterback competition had seen Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders alternating time with the first team.
Whether there was a “signal” that Watson had taken the lead or the veteran came into camp with a “leg up,” Cleveland HC Todd Monken was consistent with his
messaging and, generally, how the reps were distributed. Both of those things changed on Saturday.
First, Monken informed the media before practice that the plan was to continue with the alternating at quarterback, with Sanders next up to take reps with the first team:
When practice started, Monken’s words were not followed up with action as Watson took all of the first-team reps, with Sanders splitting time with the second team, along with Dillon Gabriel. As seen in the infamous QB tracker, Watson attempted 34 passes on Saturday, with Sanders throwing 20 and Gabriel throwing 12.
A majority of the time, Watson was followed by Gabriel, not Sanders, in each drill.
Following practice, when asked about the change in reps from what the media was told prior to practice and what actually happened on the field, we were told that “There were personnel groupings (Monken) wanted to see Deshaun with.”
Prior to practice, Monken noted that the team was starting to whittle things down to what would be considered game preparation in advance of the Chicago Bears.
The team is off on Sunday before returning to the field on Monday.
There is a lot of speculation as to what led to today’s changes. Whether Monken is close to naming Watson the starter, something happened in the few minutes between the media session and practice, the coach is trying to motivate Sanders, or any other suggestion that you can come up with, for one day Watson was clearly the Browns starter, and Sanders was demoted.
What do you think today’s practice means?
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