Browns HC shares practice plan heading into second preseason game

After a miserable start to the preseason on Saturday, Cleveland Browns fans are finally gaining some clarity as to what the starting lineup could look like for the team's Week One contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Newly hired head coach Todd Monken has done a terrific job splitting up reps in the ongoing quarterback battle and with some of this offseason's rookies. However, with the regular season right around the corner, it's clear the organization will begin building the foundation of the potential starting lineup in the remaining two preseason games.

When asked about the Browns' plan heading into the upcoming preseason matchup, Monken told reporters the starters will play a "significant amount" of time in Thursday's joint practice with the Buffalo Bills.

"The plan is that we will play our ones a significant amount against each other on Thursday in a controlled environment," Monken said. "If it's anything like we practice before, it'll be on point with what we want."

While Monken did not indicate which quarterback would be running with the ones on Thursday, the battle between veteran Deshaun Watson and former 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders continues to make headlines.

Last weekend, fans got their first glimpse of both quarterbacks competing in a live setting against the Chicago Bears. Watson received the first start, as the 30-year-old veteran completed 11 of his 15 attempts for 126 yards in the first half. Sanders would follow up the former three-time Pro Bowler by playing the entire third quarter, in which he completed six of his 11 attempts for 79 yards and one interception.

In addition to laying out his game plan for the week, Monken also told reporters that he and Bills head coach Joe Brady have come to a mutual agreement that if the coaches see what they want out of the ones during Thursday's joint practice, both teams will not play their starters on Saturday afternoon.

"We both talked about if we see our ones, [or] our older group of players, what we want to see on Thursday, they would not play in the game," Monken claimed.

Outside of the implications of Thursday's practice on the quarterback battle, if Monken decides to rest the starters for the Browns' second preseason match, the contest will be a perfect opportunity for the second-team players to make some noise in a live setting at home.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns HC shares practice plan heading into second preseason game