Shedeur Sanders lost the Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle to veteran Deshaun Watson, and after the fallout from the team's second preseason game, most in the NFL world were shocked that the organization still decided to go with Watson.
It was a decision that many saw coming all offseason, but one that is still head-scratching, especially after Sanders appeared to have outplayed Watson for most of training camp. How long Watson lasts as the browns' starter remains to be seen, with some suggesting it could only be for a couple of weeks if he struggles in Cleveland's opening two games.
Social media was set ablaze by the news Monday morning, with nearly every post on the matter backing Sanders and calling the Browns' legitimacy as an organization into question.
Here are the best reactions to Shedeur Sanders losing the Browns' quarterback competition to Deshaun Watson.
The wildness is only getting startedThis is going to be a wild September in Cleveland https://t.co/Qfk8zAPwdq
— trey wingo (@wingoz) August 24, 2026Browns fans, are you doing this?Browns fans: you gotta boycott this season. I know it sucks but you have to take one for the team.
A precedence has to be set that fans aren't going to put up with this. https://t.co/VrsIeMbFPr
Sources say that the decision between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders truly came down to the end. Both showed flashes of what a QB1 in Todd Monken’s offense could look like.
In the end, the decision leaned toward Watson’s experience. But it’s my understanding that he will… https://t.co/wxQoYlMlRlpic.twitter.com/JmOSb2RFv8
The Cleveland Browns franchise is rotten to its core.
It doesn't matter who is coaching or who they bring in to play, it's a natural vortex of incompetence and mediocrity. It's a disease.
And the people of Cleveland deserve better. https://t.co/Pvrnvpr86s
Browns owner, March 2025:
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback; we didn't.”
Browns, August 2026:
“Deshaun’s our quarteback!”
when the top-2 reasons that a QB won a preseason QB competition are:
1. he's easier to bench early in the year
2. our first two games are on the road
then man... it's as bad as it can get
2 game audition. #Dawgpound
— Tony Rizzo (@TheRealTRizzo) August 24, 2026Perhaps the only logical reason, but still not a good oneBrowns' decision makes obvious sense.
It's about time to see what they got for $230 million.
Everyone is correctly pointing out he’s no longer good and hasn’t been for years, but also: Imagine being a fan who actually opposed the choice back in 2022 for moral reasons and waking up to this. Four years and it isn’t over. https://t.co/CDDKMFZyv7
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) August 24, 2026Would this have been true?If the first 2 games were at home, this doesn’t happen. #Dawgpound
— Tony Rizzo (@TheRealTRizzo) August 24, 2026This sums it upDoes Deshaun Watson deserve to be QB1? No.
But does Deshaun Watson give the Cleveland Browns a better chance to win? Also, no.
But does naming Deshaun Watson QB1 make the fans happy and earn their trust? Once again, emphatically no.
Other than that, it's a good move, imo. https://t.co/gFaCa0nVTy
"I think it's the right move. He's got more ability than Shedeur Sanders, he's a better athlete, Todd Monken's offense requires a lot of responsibility," - @JFowlerESPN thinks the Browns made the right call starting Deshaun Watson at QB. pic.twitter.com/wKGfwl2pQS
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 24, 2026Do you agree with Dan Orlovsky?https://t.co/AVjTq8jIsypic.twitter.com/ArwiPW6Ca1
— GUCCE (@gucceCU) August 24, 2026Not Todd Monken's call?Watched the entire presser
He never praised Watson outside of his ability to come back from an injury
He praised Shedeur a ton and had glowing, 1-minute answers any time Shedeur was brought up
He said it was an organizational decision when asked if he made the call on this… https://t.co/Oe4BQYXVid
"It's about 230 million dollars. ... It hasn't worked out. ... Shedeur Sanders should be the starter."
Marcus Spears weighs in on Deshaun Watson being named the Browns starting QB on the @RichEisenShow. pic.twitter.com/WlGXLcdppS
#Browns Todd Monken said Shedeur Sanders took the news well, had a smile on his face and understands the long game.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 24, 2026Shawne Merriman brings up an interesting possibilityI think a lot of this is going over peoples heads, they’re actually settling Shedeur up up to be the starter and not have to look back. https://t.co/FAKWJfq2XH
— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) August 24, 2026Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: NFL world reacts to Shedeur Sanders losing Browns QB competition
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