BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson has produced daily highlights and lowlights through the first week of training camp. On Monday, Sanders mishandled a late-game situational drill, holding the ball too long and throwing incomplete as time expired, drawing criticism from coach Todd Monken. Minutes later, he signaled a tight end to adjust protection and delivered a deep touchdown to Gage Larvadain in a two-minute drill, showcasing his growth.

Monken insists it's too early to declare a leader, emphasizing daily evaluation over knee-jerk reactions. The first eight practices focus on installing the new offense, with 10 different cadences already incorporated. Pre-snap operation remains a priority, though infractions persist as part of the learning curve. Sanders, in his second season, has impressed Monken with his deep-ball accuracy and improving command.

Watson, returning from two Achilles surgeries that sidelined him in 2025, threw six interceptions early but posted his best session Wednesday with multiple red-zone touchdowns. Both quarterbacks will alternate first-team reps until a starter is named, with each expected to start one of the first two preseason games beginning Aug. 15 against the Chicago Bears.