Quarterback tracker
Week 1 quarterback
Who will start at quarterback for Cleveland in Week 1?
01
Where it stands
ConfirmedWatson started at Chicago, Sanders started against Buffalo, and the published depth chart lists them with an OR designation. They also split first-team reps in the Aug. 20 joint practice.
Read the full update02
The call
Still openCleveland has not named the Week 1 starter.
03
Who decides
- Status
- Open
- Decision maker
- Cleveland Browns coaching staff
- What resolves it
- An official club decision resolves the question; practice reps and preseason usage are evidence, not an announcement.
04
Next on the calendar
- Preseason: Browns vs. PatriotsSchedule source
An official club decision resolves the question; practice reps and preseason usage are evidence, not an announcement.
05
Preseason checkpoints
- Open training-camp practiceSchedule source
- Preseason: Browns at BearsSchedule source
- Preseason: Browns vs. BillsSchedule source
Chicago and Buffalo provided game reps; Cleveland still has not named a starter.
06
Sources
- Watson OR Sanders on the published depth chartOfficial depth chart · Cleveland Browns · Published Aug. 18, 2026
- Quarterbacks split first-team joint-practice repsOfficial practice report · Cleveland Browns · Aug. 20, 2026
- Competition continued after the Chicago gameOfficial team report · Cleveland Browns · Aug. 16, 2026
Updated
07
Open and resolved history
- openPublished order remained Watson OR Sanders
The official depth chart kept the decision explicitly unresolved.
- openSanders started against Buffalo
Buffalo supplied the second game checkpoint; Cleveland still had not named the Week 1 starter.
- openWatson started the preseason opener
Chicago supplied the first game checkpoint; the Week 1 decision stayed open.