When QB Deshaun Watson walked into CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Monday morning, he did not know who the starting quarterback for the 2026 season would be.
It wasn't until he spoke with head coach Todd Monken, who then informed Watson he would be the starter for the first week of the regular season when the Browns travel to face the Jaguars.
"This is what I've been working for two years is to be able to show that I'm capable of being a starter for one of the 32 organizations in this league," Watson said. "It felt good, a lot of excitement. But it comes with a lot of work, too. It's a lot of work, it's a lot of challenges that I have to continue to overcome, and I just have to continue to work on achieving those victories each and every day so I'm ready and prepared. There's going to be a lot of ups and downs, but at the same time, I'm excited to be a starting quarterback in this league, especially a starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns."
Monken said he came to decision to name Watson the starter after evaluation the full body of work throughout the offseason program, training camp, the joint practice with Bills and the first two preseason games. He explained that the decision did not come easily, as he watched both QB Shedeur Sanders and Watson compete throughout training camp to try and earn the job.
However, he added that with the Browns' first two games of the season on the road against the Jaguars in Week 1 and the Buccaneers in Week 2, he believed Watson would give the Browns the best chance in those games.
"It's really about being on the road, operation, silent cadence," Monken said. "Opening the season, it just felt like that was the right way to go. And that wasn't the only criteria, it was just a piece of it."
Over the course of training camp, Watson utilized the reps he took with the first team to his advantage. He learned the new offensive scheme under Monken, and with each practice over training camp, grew in his level of understanding of how Monken wanted the offense to operate.
He had a chance in the first preseason game against the Bears to gain those game reps in the first half, and another shot in the third quarter against the Bills in the second week of the preseason. He also faced the Bills' first-team defense in the joint practice on Aug. 20, an opportunity to see another defensive scheme.
For Watson, he believes he has continued to improve throughout training camp.
"I think I'm getting better. I think mentally I've been getting better," Watson said. "There's a lot of things, too, that me and Monk talked personally that we haven't showcased. We haven't showcased my full talent and ability to run in this offense, being able to run and being able to use my athletic ability, getting outside the pocket, being able to do some other QB-driven stuff. So, I'm excited to see what we can cook up getting ready for week one."
With the decision, Watson now has three weeks before the season opener in Jacksonville to continue taking reps with the starters and building on their chemistry as an offensive unit. He said as an offense they must spend time in the film room and off the field to build connections for the first week of the season.
Monken views the next few weeks as the next step in their preparation, as their focus turns towards preparing for the first week of the regular season.
"But ultimately, we're about Week 1," Monken said. "That's all it's about – Week 1, putting our best foot forward over the next three weeks. As I said the other day, we're only halfway through training camp, still have this week, got next week, got the whole game prep for Jacksonville. We really haven't game-planned anybody in the preseason, so our ability to game plan and get ready for Jacksonville; I'm looking forward to it."
Check out the top shots from Day 19 of 2026 Browns Training Camp as players got to work with drills, workouts and team prep at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Kole Wilson (87) and Wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. (1) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Tyreak Sapp (64) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Carsen Ryan (48) and Tight end Jermaine Terry (85) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Benton Whitley (61) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The wide receivers during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (50) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (50) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Kole Wilson (87) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Jermaine Terry (85) and Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The running backs during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (50) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Tre Avery (11) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Jared Verse (8) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Tre Avery (11) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The quarterbacks during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Ralph Street during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Kalia Davis (93) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Tyler Hall (29) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Jermaine Terry (85) and Tight end Drew Biber (43)during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 19 of Training Camp on August 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
