Are You Ready to Name Deshaun Watson the Starter?

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima break down the Browns' preseason opener against Chicago and conclude the quarterback competition is effectively over, with Deshaun Watson set to start Week 1. They point to how the practice schedule was arranged (Shedeur Sanders starting the preseason game but without first-team reps) as a clear signal, and note Watson's performance was solid if unspectacular given his 600-plus days away from football. They also dig into Todd Monken's visibly proud reaction to Watson's outing, reading it as the coach protecting and championing a quarterback everyone had written off, while acknowledging Sanders flashed real arm talent on his deep strike to Luke Floreia even as Monken flagged mechanical issues to clean up.