Could the Cleveland Browns really put out a fourth different starting QB before the 2025 season is done?
While there was an outside chance, the latest update from The Athletic Browns insider Zac Jackson suggests they're going to cap it at three.
Polarizing veteran QB Deshaun Watson returned to practice a couple of weeks ago after missing most of the 2025 season with an Achilles issue. However, he was not activated off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
The deadline to activate him off the PUP list is Tuesday, December 23, so head coach Kevin Stefanski has a decision to make. However, according to Jackson, even if Watson is activated, it won't be because he's going to suit up for the Browns over the final two weeks of the season.
"My guess is the Browns will shut Watson down for the season. Even if he’s activated, it would likely to be just to keep him practicing," suggested Jackson. "There was never much realistic chance he’d play this year. As for what happens next with his contract, we will see - likely in late February."
With Watson unlikely to figure into Cleveland's QB plans for the remainder of the 2025 season, the Browns will continue to trot out their rookie QB duo of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel for Weeks 17 and 18.
Both Sanders and Gabriel actually played in Cleveland’s most recent contest, a surprisingly close 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills at home. Sanders—who finished with 157 yards passing, one TD, and two INTs—left the game briefly after a gruesome injury to the pinky finger on his throwing hand.
Despite the blood and a trip to the locker room, Sanders missed only one snap. Gabriel took that one snap late in the second quarter, dropped back, and was sacked for -2 yards.
There’s certainly no quarterback drama with Gabriel challenging Sanders’ spot in 2025. And based on what we know from informed Browns insiders like Jackson, there won’t be one with Watson either.
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However, whether that will remain true through to the start of the 2026 season remains unclear. Cleveland seems unlikely to select another QB in the 2026 Draft, but the Browns have said they expect Deshaun Watson back with the team in 2026 “in some capacity”. What that means is unclear.
If they cut him before June 1st, they will be hit with an unprecedented $131 million dead cap hit. If they wait until after June 1st, the dead cap hit will be less, at $81, but still very significant. He’s not going anywhere until after his albatross of a contract is up after the 2026 season.
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders has gone 1-4 as the starter, completing 55 percent of his passes for six TDs, eight INTs, and 183.8 passing yards per game. He’s averaging 6.6 yards per attempt with a 67.6 passer rating.
Not elite numbers, but Sanders’ ability (and willingness) to throw downfield has impressed. He’s also been surprisingly productive running the football, with 14 carries for 123 yards and a score.
However, Sanders is going to have to take it up a notch if he’s going to hold off a possibly rejuvenated Watson in 2026.