Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken is still new to town, so he can be excused for not understanding how things work around here when it comes to quarterbacks.
Every decision relating to the position must be questioned and defended on a daily basis. It does not matter how many names are on the infamous quarterback jersey; the mob always wants another one added to it.
Because where is the fun of simply knowing who the starter is and practicing for that week’s opponent?
Monken appears to be catching
on, however, as he showed during Wednesday’s announcement that quarterback Deshaun Watson would be back as the starter for this week’s game against the Houston Texans after missing one game with a concussion.
It is the type of standard move that NFL teams make all the time. A starter misses a game (or games) with an injury, and once healthy, they return to their former status.
Maybe the fact that Monken is trying his best to run the Browns like a real NFL team is throwing people off. After all, despite not playing well for a full game yet this season, Watson has been instrumental in helping the Browns stay relevant into November, which is a rare feat around these parts.
Why would Monken want to go away from that, especially after watching the same script play out against New Orleans only to end with a crucial loss instead of a key win?
The answer, as it has been since the start of the season, is that he never wanted to, and it was only Watson suffering a concussion that brought a conversation no one wanted to have back into the light.
Now that Monken has answered the question, the team can focus on getting ready for the Houston Texans and attempt to avoid going into the bye week on a three-game losing streak.
We have spent enough time on all this; let’s get rolling with today’s edition of the Daily Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature
Browns, Texans injuries: 8 players sit out practice, over a dozen limited (Jared Mueller): It is getting to be the time of year when the injury lists start to grow.
2027 Browns mock draft: Help on defense and finally a QB (Thomas Moore): Everyone knows the Browns are resetting the quarterback room in 2027. But who will be the lucky new guy?
Browns roster has several players listed on the midseason All-Rookie Team (Barry Shuck): Cleveland’s rookie class continues to impress.
Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? Browns starting QB plan now official (Jared Mueller): Head coach Todd Monken made an announcement that did not need to be made.
Browns roster: 4 moves after trade deadline, including bringing back 2 familiar names (Jared Mueller): In today’s episode of As the Roster Churns.
The Feed
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Cleveland Browns
What Deshaun Watson said about future as Browns starting QB (Beacon Journal): Cleveland’s QB1 getting ready for whatever the Texans may bring on Sunday.
Shedeur Sanders vs the Saints Week 9 Analysis (The QB School): In this video, former quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan breaks down what went right, and what went wrong, Sunday against the Saints.
Todd Monken always planned to start Deshaun Watson vs. the Texans and expects him remain QB1 ‘but we’re week-to-week’ (cleveland.com): He’s not starting anyone but Deshaun Watson unless Watson gets injured. Monken has made the pretty clear.
Todd Monken goes back to Deshaun Watson, ‘anticipates’ him being the starter moving forward (Browns Zone): How many more times does he have to say it?
NFL
Where does Cam Ward stand coming out of the bye? (ESPN): Could Tennessee be back in the quarterback market in 2027?
Bengals apologize for Arnold Ebiketie trade deadline debacle (The Athletic): The one where an NFL team fails to understand the basic rules.
Is a playoff bid guaranteed for the Bucs? No. But don’t bet against it (Tampa Bay Times): If you play in the NFC South, you are never out of the playoff picture.
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