The Cleveland Browns are expected to evaluate their quarterback situation after Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay, using the first two weeks as a checkpoint before their Week 3 home opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Deshaun Watson will make his second straight start after winning the job out of training camp with his work and experience. Shedeur Sanders is next in line if Cleveland decides a change is warranted.
The Browns opened 0-1 with a 34-10 loss at Jacksonville. Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He rushed six times for 38 yards and was sacked five times. The offensive operation left those inside the building frustrated, and the overall performance was poor.
First-year coach Todd Monken said after Week 1 that he anticipated sticking with Watson and later confirmed the tape supported that call. He said the Browns have to play better around Watson, call it better, and that Watson has to play better.
Watson’s play against the Buccaneers will shape what comes next. A strong outing and a win would make the decision straightforward. Another uneven showing in a loss could open the door for Sanders in Week 3.
Cleveland still needs to determine whether it has a franchise quarterback. Watson is making his first regular-season starts since tearing his Achilles in October 2024 and missing all of 2025. The Browns hold multiple first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft and are among the teams that could pursue a top college quarterback if neither Watson nor Sanders looks like the long-term answer.
Fan confidence dropped after the opener, with many viewing Cleveland’s quarterback situation as the weakest in the league.
