Browns name Deshaun Watson starting quarterback

Watson carries a $40.9 million cap hit this season.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 251 min read

Deshaun Watson has been named the Cleveland Browns starting QB Manti Te'o breaks down the reasoning ⬇️ https://t.co/lK Via @nflnetwork on X

What happened: Manti Te'o broke down Cleveland's reasoning for the decision on NFL Network.

Why it matters: The choice locks in the Browns' Week 1 plan and shapes the remaining quarterback depth chart. It also puts Watson's performance at the center of Cleveland's 2026 evaluation.

By the numbers: Watson's PFF grade peaked at 92.4 before the trade; each of his three post-trade marks remained below 70.

What to watch: Watson's preseason workload and Cleveland's final backup order are the next markers.

Sources

@nflnetwork 2026-08-25T12:44:16.076800+00:00

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Browns name Deshaun Watson starting quarterback

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